The JCCEO Head Start Program presented 32 Head Start college scholarships to former Head Start students who graduated from high school in May-June 2011. The $500 scholarships were presented last year at their schools' Award Day ceremonies.  Awarding the scholarships was the accomplishment of a dream more than 13 years in the making. In the mid-1990s, JCCEO staff, parents, and friends began raising funds to invest in scholarships for each class of Head Start children who would graduate from high school 13 years later. This fundraising and investing have continued and blossomed over the years.

A luncheon was held for these first scholarship students and their parents on December 30, 2011 at JCCEO Headquarters.  Eighteen recipients were in attendance.  The JCCEO staff at the luncheon were delighted to learn that the former Head Start children are attending Miles College, Lawson State Community College, Alabama A&M University, Alabama State University, Tuskegee University, Montevallo University, the University of Alabama, Jacksonville State University, Troy State University, Tri-State, and other colleges and universities with fields of study in accounting, mechanical engineering, pre-med, nursing, social work, criminal justice, and business, among others.

All in attendance were thrilled to also learn that many of the students graduated as top students in their classes and won additional scholarships to support their postgraduate studies.  Dr. Calvin Moore, Jr., Director of the JCCEO Head Start Program, also a former Head Start student, challenged the students to stay in school, obtain their undergraduate degrees, and not unlike him, go on to earn additional degrees.

JCCEO is proud of all students and these students who received the first JCCEO Head Start scholarships and, with hope that the number of scholarship recipients grows, looks forward to awarding additional scholarships next spring.

The JCCEO Head Start Program scholarship recipients were: Kamiesha Armstrong, Jolisia Bennett, Jeremy Bogus, Ricky Boswell, Jr., Kiana Bradley, Alonzo Butts, Jessica Carter, Kiara Cooper, Amber Duncan, Courtney Gaines, Harold Gaines, Antonio Hagler, Jamie Hicks, Aleshia Hodge, Marilyn Hall, Jasmine Horne, Vallean R. Jackson, T'Keyah Johnson, Darryl Jones, II, Manasseh Jones, Jarred Lavier, Erika Lewis, Brittney McCreary, Denzel McGill, Anleia Nance, Bianca Pearson, Kearia Truss, Shaperrish Watts, Ashley White, Jarvis Williams, Jazmyne Williams, and Timothy Workman, Jr.