The Suffolk Education Foundation is pleased to announce the 11 outstanding recipients of its 2026 college scholarships.

The Class of 2026 city-wide will receive $21,250 from the Suffolk Education Foundation – most of them are endowed

memorial scholarships. Since 1993, SEF has awarded close to a half-million dollars in scholarships to Suffolk students.

 

FUTURE EDUCATOR SCHOLARSHIP – The Suffolk Education Foundation awards a $3,000 scholarship to one

graduating senior city-wide who plans a career as an educator.

• This year’s city-wide recipient is ELISABETH WRITTENBERRY from King’s Fork High School, who will be attending
  the University of North Carolina at Greensboro to study Music Education.

 

E. TALMADGE DARDEN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP - Chosen family and friends of Talmadge, who passed away
from cancer in 2011, established this $1,500 scholarship in his memory. He was the first principal of King’s Fork Middle
School, and this scholarship is given to help students who attended King’s Fork Middle School and those who plan to
major in music, culinary arts, or education.

• This year’s city-wide recipient is also ELISABETH WRITTENBERRY from King’s Fork High School, who will be
  attending the University of North Carolina at Greensboro to study Music Education.

 

CROSS FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP - The Cross family established this $1,750 scholarship to honor their parents,
Harry Lee and Jean Ritchie. Mr. Cross was chairman of the Suffolk School Board and was a successful realtor; Jean
Cross taught in the Suffolk Public School system. One scholarship is awarded to each high school.

• The Nansemond River High School recipient is MASON MILLS, who will be attending the University of Virginia to
  study biomedical engineering.

• The Lakeland High School recipient is TUCKER MARCH, who will be attending Virginia Tech to study mechanical
  engineering

• The King’s Fork High School recipient is HANNAH SMITH, who will be attending Virginia Tech to study Animal Science.

MILTON R. LIVERMAN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP – Mrs. Shirley Liverman established this $1,500 scholarship to honor her husband.   Dr. Liverman served Suffolk Public Schools for 36 years including 10 years as its Superintendent.  Dr. Liverman was committed to helping young people make a difference in their community and achieve their potential.

• This year’s city-wide recipient is MAYA WALKER from King’s Fork High School, who will be attending Hampton University to study Accounting.

 

GERTRUDE B. PRUDEN FAMILY ARTS SCHOLARSHIP - The Pruden family established this $1,500 scholarship in memory of this local teacher who loved music, art, and drama. 

• This year’s city-wide recipient is CANYON GOETSCH from Nansemond River High School, who will be attending the University of North Carolina at Greensboro to study dance & choreography.
   

G. BLAIR HARRY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP - The Harry family established this $1,500 scholarship to honor their father, who was a well- known Suffolk lawyer and judge who passed away in 2005. This scholarship is earmarked for college-bound student athletes. 

• EARLING HUNTER II – active at King’s Fork High School in Football and Baseball – will attend Norfolk State University to study Civil Engineering.

• KENTARA WATKINS – active at Lakeland High School in Cheerleading – will attend Virginia State University to study Biomedical Science.

 

HELEN AND NED FERGUSON ENDOWMENT SCHOLARSHIP - The Ferguson family established this $1,500 scholarship to honor their parents, Ned and Helen.  Both were extremely active in the Suffolk community and Mr. Ferguson was a local attorney.

• The King’s Fork High School recipient is KHIYA FRANKLIN, who will be attending Virginia Commonwealth University to study Health Sciences.

• The Nansemond River High School recipient will be attending Virginia Tech to study computer engineering – KASSIDY FREEMAN

• The Lakeland High School recipient is MY’JARVIOUS WATKINS, who will be attending Norfolk State University to study Pre-Med and Pre-Pharmacy.

 

ELLIS E. TEMPLE, SR. MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP - The Temple family established this scholarship in 2009 to help a college-bound student athlete and school leader at Lakeland High School. This $1,000 scholarship was first awarded in 2013. Ellis Temple was president of the city-wide Suffolk PTA Council. 

• This year’s recipient is TUCKER MARCH, who was active at Lakeland High School in Football, Baseball, Golf and Indoor Track. He will be attending Virginia Tech to study mechanical engineering.

 

Awards are made following an application process and reviewed by a committee appointed by the Suffolk Education Foundation’s board of directors. Selection criteria include academic achievement, community/school service, and future education and career goals.

 

If you want to learn more about establishing a memorial scholarship with an endowment, please email or call our administrator, Bethanne Bradshaw, at the Suffolk Education Foundation at suffolkef.contact@gmail.com or (757) 237-3249.