Tiretown Golf Club honored seven Akron-area high school graduates for their outstanding academic performances during its annual scholarship banquet on Oct. 16 at the Alpha Phi Alpha Center.
Among the scholars were three Buchtel graduates — Sahniya Manson (University of Cincinnati), Melinda Moore and Julian Grimes, both freshmen at Kent State University. The other recipients are St. Thomas Aquinas graduate Zach Wartley (Lakeland Community College), Firestone graduates Armani Ponder-Keith (Ohio Northern University) and Alexis Robles (Kent State University) and Kenmore-Garfield’s Jonathan Dillworth (Clark Atlanta University).
Ponder-Keith, a musical theatre major, received the Tiretown/Akron Urban League scholarship. The award is named in honor of beloved Tiretown member Rodney Dingle, who passed away earlier this year.
The scholars received an uplifting message from Tiretown member and Firestone CLC principal Larry Johnson. Johnson challenged the scholarship recipients to surround themselves with good people and to stay confident amid adversity and failures.
In addition, Akron mayor Daniel Horrigan, NAACP president Judi Hill and former Akron Board of Education president, Rev. Dr. Curtis T. Walker Sr., offered words of encouragement to both the college freshmen and the young scholars — Christina Fullilove and Journey Myers of Robinson CLC and Sofia Maldonado and Mar’kyeja Carter of Schumacher CLC.
Tiretown Golf Club and Tiretown Golf Charities, which celebrates its 72nd anniversary in 2022, awarded $500 Special Education Awards to Emmanuel Christian Academy and Arlington Christian Academy.
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Middle: Student Recognition Award recipient Mar’kyeja Carter and family with TGC President Ralph Paulk, TGC Scholarship Committee Chair David Brown, and TGC Vice President Michael Robinson.
Right: Scholarship recipient Julian Grimes and family with the Tiretown Golf Club Scholarship Committee. Photo credits: Danella Brown
Tiretown also recognized its Henry Mumford Distinguished Service Award recipients. Membership chairman Elmore Banton, Joe Williams and TGC president Ralph N. Paulk were honored by their peers. The award is named in honor of the club’s first-ever president.
Paulk was presented a special recognition award from Vice President Michael Robinson, which read “In appreciation for your service, leadership and significant contribution towards our organizational success. Your vision coupled with your commitment to excellence has been an inspiration to club members and the Akron community.” Tiretown Golf Charities thank the companies, charitable organizations and donors who made this year’s banquet a success. The proceeds from the program booklet will benefit the organization’s scholarship fund. Also, thanks to First Tee of Greater Akron and the golfers who participated in the annual Tiretown Golf Club Junior Tournament at Mud Run Golf Course in Akron.