SALISBURY — Hairston Funeral Home, Inc. recently announced the 2023-2024 T. H. Hairston, Sr., Scholarship Award recipients, each receiving $500.

Recipients are selected based on their GPA, community involvement, leadership skills and their educational aspirations. This past scholarship year, four young ladies were selected and include the following: All recipients have had a very successful first semester.

The scholarship committee includes, Rev. Ruby Steele, Mrs. Carlotta Ramseur, Sandra Corpening and Velveeta Reid-Hairston.

Mary Morgan is a 2023 graduate of Salisbury High School where she was a member of the National Honor Society, girls basketball team and track team. Morgan mentored elementary and middle-school girls in basketball. She also volunteered at Rowan Helping Ministries and is a member of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Salisbury. She is a freshman at North Carolina Central University in Durham. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Morgan.

Zahria Evans is a 2023 graduate of North Rowan High School where she was a member of the National Honor Society, Tar Heels Girls State, a cheerleader, a member of the Key Club, Junior Civitan member of the NAACP Student Council and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She volunteered at the WF Bill Hefner Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Kiddie Land Kindergarten and the Crosby Scholars. She is a member of Jerusalem Baptist Church and a freshman at North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro. She is the daughter of Linda Cowan Peterson (Floyd) and Joseph Larry Evans.

Icesis Nwafor is a 2023 graduate of Salisbury High School where she was a member of the National Honor Society, born leader club and varsity basketball and volleyball teams. She also volunteered at local churches, the homeless shelter and a local daycare. She attends Bluefield State University in Bluefield, West Virginia. She is the daughter of Nora Nwafor.

Azaria Elder is a 2023 graduate of North Rowan High School where she was a member of the National Honor Society and Phi Theta Kappa (the Early College Honor Society). In her church, she served as a youth ambassador and as an intern at First Missionary Baptist Church. She volunteered with Special Olympics and had the opportunity to work at the Oak Park Retirement Center. She participated in musical theater, golf, basketball and Crosby Scholars. She attends Montreat College. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Billy Elder.