A local nuclear group awarded nearly $7,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors during a monthly dinner meeting earlier this month.
The Savannah River Section of the American Nuclear Society awarded three scholarship awards and three commendation awards to 2015 graduates in the CSRA on June 1 at Newberry Hall.
The Benjamin Memorial Scholarships are provided in the memory of its longtime member, Dr. Richard Benjamin, who dies in 2013.
Benjamin was a mentor to many nuclear science and technology professionals in the Aiken-Augusta area for more than four decades and also was an employee with the Savannah River Site.
The scholarships in his honor awards students who express academic and career interests in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, and particularly those wishing to major in a field associated with nuclear science and technology.
Three scholarships, each worth $1,500, were awarded to Muhammad Ali Rizvi of Aiken High, Jessica Tran of Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School and David Stoner of South Aiken High.
The commendation awards are each worth $750 and were awarded to Grace Huber of Lakeside High School, Chance Pittman of Aquinas High School and Allison Swiecki of Midland Valley High School.
Kevin O'Kula, the scholarship chairman of the group, said that all of the Benjamin Memorial Scholarship applicants were impressive in what they have accomplished, leaving the scholarship committee with difficult choices to make.
"However, the six awards were (given) to students who are truly exceptional, and are well on their way of becoming the next generation of our country's leading scientists, engineers, educators, mathematicians, technicians and related professionals," O'Kula said.
Derrek Asberry is the SRS beat reporter with the Aiken Standard. He joined the paper in June 2013. He is originally from Vidalia, Ga., and a graduate of Georgia Southern University. Follow him on Twitter @DerrekAsberry.