Scholarship winners at Rocky Bayou

Rocky Bayou Christian School, a K3 through 12th grade private Christian school in Niceville, recognizes its south Walton County graduates who have been offered college scholarships and honored with academic and character awards during the college preparatory school’s 2011 commencement ceremonies May 27.

Morgan Canales, son of David Canales of Miramar Beach and Shelley Poirrier of Fort Walton Beach, is a Florida Medallion Scholar and has been awarded the President’s Award for Educational Achievement, the RBCA Outstanding Christian Character Award and the Moses Award (for service).

Jacob Emerick, son of James and Alicia Emerick of Santa Rosa Beach, has been offered and accepted a $56,000 scholarship to Baylor University in Waco, Texas. In addition, the Florida Academic Scholar was offered a $28,400 scholarship to the Wilkes Honor College at Florida Atlantic University. Emerick graduated from RBCS with an Honor’s Diploma (earned with extra credits and more stringent requirements including a higher minimum grade point average, Advanced Placement classes and both science and engineering projects) and was presented with the Superintendent’s Renaissance Man Award, Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) Distinguished Christian High School Student Award (based on excellence in academics, athletics, community service, fine arts and leadership or any combination thereof), and the President’s Award for Educational Excellence.

John Stevenson, a RBCS graduate from Santa Rosa Beach, accepted a $93,600 scholarship to swim for Centenary College of Louisiana in Shreveport, La. The son of John and Kristi Stevenson, John is a Florida Academic Scholar and was offered a number of scholarships including $56,000 to Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Ala., $38,000 to Belhaven University in Jackson, Miss., and $72,580 to Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach. Stevenson was awarded the Jesse Brewer Spirit Award (an excellence and determination award given to a student in honor of Jesse Brewer, an RBCS student who lost his battle with cancer in 2002). He also received the ACSI Distinguished Christian High School Student Award and the President’s Award for Educational Achievement.

As a class, the 48 students who graduated from Rocky Bayou Christian School in May were offered more the $4.5 million in scholarships. The Rocky Bayou Christian Academy is RBCS’s secondary department serving students grades 7 through 12, with a special focus on college preparatory academics along with student enrichment opportunities including competitive sports, vibrant fine arts and music programs, community outreach initiatives and more. 

For more information about Rocky Bayou Christian School, visit www.rbcs.org or call (850) 678-7358 and ask for the admissions office.