Six Youth Receive Marilyn E. Lewis Scholarship Award

NEWBURGH – Black Lives Matter. It’s a rally cry that has been heard for several years and has only gotten louder in recent months.

However, long before the Black Lives Matter movement, one altruistic person, Floyd Lewis, made the decision to be part of the solution. Following the passing of his wife Marilyn E Lewis in 2005, he decided to create an education scholarship in her name.

He wanted to give back to future generations of young people who wanted to continue their education. The idea was simple, but he needed help. He enlisted the guidance of his children and joined forces with his house of worship, Baptist Temple in Newburgh. Soon they were hosting fundraisers to raise money to award their first scholarship.

Now fifteen years later, Deacon Floyd Lewis is able to see just how many young people he has helped over the years. But he doesn’t dwell on the past, as he looks around at the present.

On Friday afternoon, he joined yet another scholarship award program where six young people received the Marilyn E. Lewis Scholarship. The few words and soft-spoken deacon offered a prayer to the recipients followed by, “We love you. Look to the Lord. He is the giver of all good things.”

Each of the six Marilyn E. Lewis Scholarship recipients received $1,000 towards their higher education. The award recipients were: Kendall C. Scott; Malik Powell; Ajuan Johnson; Raven Scott; Ryenne Scott; and Xavier Colgohoun. Students will be attending, or continuing their education at several schools including Dutchess Community College, University of Albany, Delaware State, SUNY New Paltz and North Carolina A&T University.

Rev. Dr. Dollyann Newkirk-Briggs, Baptist Temple Church Pastor, thanked the scholarship committee members who worked hard to make this year’s scholarship a reality, especially during a pandemic, and for their dedication to the youth of the church. “Under normal circumstances we would have had a nice banquet to celebrate this momentous occasion,” she said. Due to COVID-19, only award recipients and parents were invited.

She also recognized the parents, who helped guide their children, not only on the path to higher education, but for their continued commitment to God. “We thank God for you,” Pastor Newkirk-Brigs said. “They’re prayers have brought you to this place.”

Following the brief ceremony, Newkirk-Briggs left the students with one charge: “Come back with a degree!” As they left Baptist Temple to pursue their goals of higher education, Floyd Lewis knows he has made a lasting impact on all of the Marilyn E. Lewis Scholarship recipients and is looking forward to seeing them return – with degrees in hand.

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