Woodmont Awards Ten Scholarships to 2020 High School Seniors
The coronavirus pandemic has changed so many aspects of daily life, but it cannot stop milestones, celebrations and rites of passage. In recent months we’ve seen the ingenuity and resilience of parents, children, students, teachers, brides, grooms and families as they find new ways to mark special occasions.
Whether it’s a family’s Easter dinner via Zoom, or a neighborhood car parade to celebrate a child’s birthday, special occasions may look different, but they aren’t stopping any time soon. Virtual, drive-in, and alternative ceremonies have become de rigueur.
One group, in particular, has missed multiple milestones and rites of passage this year: 2020 high school seniors. Traditionally, the last year of high school is jam-packed with important milestones including: varsity sports, pep rallies, spirit week, college tours, prom, senior trip, yearbook signing, and, of course, graduation.
It’s also a time for public recognition of students’ achievements throughout their undergraduate years. Student council members govern with pride; varsity athletes announce where they’ll play college sports; the valedictorian gives a speech at graduation; honor roll students wear special stoles. And, deserving students attend scholarship ceremonies where they are recognized for their achievements and rewarded with funds to pursue higher education.
For the past six years, Woodmont Cabinetry’s scholarship awards ceremony and luncheon has been an annual highlight. Each year, we award ten academic scholarships to Woodmont Cabinetry employees’ dependents. Scholarship recipients are chosen based on their academic performance, references, answers to application questions, and financial need.
During a typical year, we organize a recognition reception for both parents and students that includes all of the makings of a true celebration: decorations, gifts, cake, refreshments, speeches, and, of course, giant checks!
But this year, we had to do things differently. As an essential business, Woodmont Cabinetry has remained open throughout the COVID-19 lockdown, adapting to health precautions and social distancing protocols. Due to social gathering restrictions, we couldn’t receive a group of visitors, but we could celebrate quietly with the proud parents of these exceptional students. At each plant, we hosted small luncheons for a total of eight parents. (This year, two parents each had two children receiving scholarships!)
Jaime Tidwell Foster hosted the lunches on behalf of the Tidwell family, along with our Vice-President of Human Resources, George Bellomusto. The feasts included appetizers, sandwiches, tamales, burritos and desserts. During the lunch, everyone discussed the achievements of the students and their plan for the future – one is going into nursing; another plans to pursue a degree in psychology.
It was an inspiring afternoon to realize that during a time where nurses, doctors, mental health care professionals, grocery works and other essential employees have emerged as our nation’s true heroes, there is another wave of inspiring, committed young people eager to serve and contribute to our nation’s fabric. We are grateful that even in this time of instability, Woodmont Cabinetry can still partner with our employees’ children in helping them pursue their career dreams.
Congratulations to all of the graduating seniors within our family of Woodmont employees. We value education, our employees, and their families. And we are honored to witness your success in school and celebrate your contributions to our community. Although you have missed out on many experiences this year, nothing can take away the pride that we all feel for your achievements.
