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| Cadet Samunique Blackmon (2020) |
Cadet Jerica James (2020) |
Cadet Samunique Blackmon of Callaway and Cadet Jerica James of Murrah are 2021 recipients of the first Leland R. Speed scholarships of $5,000 each. The awards were presented to the cadets at a ceremony held on May 21 at Callaway High School. Cadet Blackmon was named the JROTC Cadet of the Year in 2020 and has served throughout her senior year as the highest-ranking JROTC cadet Districtwide. James was named the Murrah High School Cadet of the Year in 2020 and has served alongside Blackmon as the Adjutant/Human Resource officer of the JROTC command staff.
The Leland R. Speed Scholarship for JPS JROTC Top Cadets goes to the Districtwide Cadet of the Year and the Murrah High School Cadet of the Year. The scholarship is awarded during their senior year of high school. Funds are paid directly to the cadet's community college, college or university. Murrah alum William VanDevender coordinated with Jane Alexander of the Community Foundation of Mississippi to establish the scholarship fund. The scholarship honors the late Leland R. Speed, a longtime ÐÓ°É businessman and founder of two ÐÓ°É-based NYSE-traded companies, and was recognized as a member of the Mississippi Business Hall of Fame.
Cadet Blackmon will attend Xavier University in New Orleans, and Cadet James will attend the University of Southern Mississippi this fall.