A scholarship fund designed to celebrate the achievements of Gentry High School seniors and reap financial support for select members of the 2019 graduating class and each subsequent group has been established to posthumously honor a well-known Delta educator from the areas of Math and Science, Dr. Charles E. Featherstone.
Dr. Featherstone, who was also a veternarian and businessman, taught Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Algebra and Geometry in many of the area schools including Restoration Ministries Academy, Ruleville Central High, Amanda Elzy High as well as Gentry High.
The Featherstone Scholarship Foundation has embarked upon a vigorous community fundraising effort that is initially intended to provide financial assistance for college tuition to six 2019 graduating seniors, Rufus Bush III, Keyjuan Meeks, Natoyria Simmons, Carledia Jones, Joy Gatlin and Cristian Young. They are currently ranked among the top 10 students in Gentry’s upcoming graduating class.
Only candidates with exceptional accomplishments in the areas of Math and Science are considered for the honor. Kenneth V. Featherstone, son and foundation director said, “It (was) the dream of Dr. Charles E. Featherstone to touch the lives of every aspiring scholar from within our schools. He taught and touched the lives of hundreds of students within the Indianola and Sunflower County areas in the disciplines of Math and Science.”
In addition to excelling in Math and Science, the candidates have to submit a 500-word essay and make an oral presentation during the foundation’s Black Tie Fundraising Event scheduled for Saturday, October 20 at 7:00 p.m., at the B. B. King AT&T educational building on the museum’s campus. The students will be judged on their presentations and their creative writing ability.
That event will provide an opportunity for the public to meet the candidates and the seniors will get to meet foundation supporters. Dinner will be served and there will be live entertainment featuring gospel recording artist Cheryl McWhorter and jazz saxophonist, DeLon Charley.
Featherstone said, as a first for Indianola, there will be a Professional Alumni Showcase. “For the first time ever, we will bring all of the Indianola graduates who also excelled in Math and Science and have gone on to become doctors, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, engineers, bankers, accountants and so on.” Other Gentry High Math and Science teachers, past and present, such as Charles Scott, Mildred Chance and Lillie Barner will also be acknowledged during the gala.
The scholarship also has a built-in mentorship feature. “We will arrange for them (the candidates) to shadow our professionals at their jobs through the school year. The mentorship program will help our candidates shape their idea of what their future profession will look like by helping them decide their respective career paths,” said Featherstone, “As the saying goes, ‘Kids can’t be, what they can’t see,” he added.
The scholarship winner will also be honored at the 2019 GHS Awards’ Day ceremony. Interested persons can donate or become a sponsor by contacting Featherstone or sending their gift via PayPal.Me/featherstonescholars.
The late Dr. Charles E. Featherstone along with his brother J.J. Featherstone opened the first black-owned and operated veterinary hospital in the Mississippi Delta, Mid-Delta Animal Clinic, in the 1970’s. They were both graduates of the Tuskegee Institute School of Veterinary Medicine.
