$1,000 Scholarship Awarded during 15th Annual “Hello-Goodbye” Reception at Holy Cross Catholic Church
Courtney Williams and her family were momentarily stunned after hearing the announcement that Courtney had just been awarded the $1,000 Richard Matthew Morris Scholarship. Then she shakily rose and made her way to the stage amidst applause, gleeful shouts and whistles from the crowd of 200 that filled the Thea Bowman Hall of Holy Cross Catholic Church on the afternoon of April 26.
The award was presented during the 15th Annual “Hello-Goodbye” Reception at Holy Cross. The scholarship is awarded to a graduating senior of Holy Cross who has achieved satisfactory academic accomplishment and exceptional prowess in the area of service to others. To illustrate that service, each scholarship applicant was asked to detail how he or she shares his or her gifts with others and how he or she plans to do so in the future. Benefactor Mrs. Deborah Dennis, who founded and oversees the scholarship fund named in honor of her brother who transitioned in 2013, and Holy Cross pastor Rev. Timothy Gollob presented the award.
“It is so important for our young people today to not only be able to compete on the academic field, but also to be able to be willing to and actively participate in the skill of sharing one’s gifts and blessings with others who may not be as fortunate,” Mrs. Dennis stated. “We have got to understand the importance of reaching out, of paying it forward – not expecting reward for the deeds we do, but fulfilling what God asks of us.”
Courtney is a senior at Ursuline Academy of Dallas and plans to attend Washington University in St. Louis, studying biochemistry and Arabian Language and Culture in order to ultimately serve as a pediatric dentist to help provide oral care to overlooked communities around the world. Courtney’s parents are Ann and Joseph Williams. Her twin sisters Natalie and Olivia already attend college.
The “Hello-Goodbye” reception was designed by youth ministers to congratulate active youth group members, and invite younger members of the parish to become involved in youth ministry activities. Holy Cross Singles’ Ministry co-hosted this year’s event, themed “Believe. Lead. Succeed,” by providing gifts to all graduating seniors of the church community’s 850 families. The program mirrored the diversity of the parish, including music and dance performances by various youth. The traditional balloon send-off highlighted the program, followed by a delicious meal of fruit, smoked brisket, turkey, sausage, corn, green beans, rice dressing, roll, cake and a drink.
Graduate honorees and their schools are: Alissa Anderson-Bishop Dunne Catholic School, Sean Clemmons-Mansfield Lake Ridge High School, Brittni Clemons-Cedar Hill High School, Kevin Drain-Bishop Dunne Catholic School, Jordan Guillory-Garland High School, Charva Harris-Life Charter School, Dakota Kilburn-Skyline High School, Alex Lopez-Faith Family Academy, Tiffanie Mason-Moises E. Molina High School, Jarren Narcisse-DeSoto High School, Jaileen Sanchez-Irma Lerma Rangel Youth Women’s Leadership School, Dominique Senegal-Lancaster High School, Zoria Trail-JBS Law Magnet at Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center, and Courtney Williams-Ursuline Academy of Dallas.
