The Lawton Family Scholarship announces 4 new scholars for 2021

Four deserving young women from Lake Oconee Academy became the newest Lawton Scholars on Friday evening, May 15. They join an impressive league of students who have received the scholarship since it was first awarded in 2015. The students were chosen by a selection team review and interviews with the Lawton family. At LOA’s senior award ceremony, the Lawton Family named Hannah Bell, Katherine (Katie) Ciavola, Lauren Eley and Rylie McDonald as the 2021 recipients. 

Hannah Bell is synonymous with “service.” Her teachers describe her as a “humble servant, never seeking recognition or attention for her efforts.” Bell discovered her love of service through her involvement with The Thirst Project, an organization founded in 2008 that collects money and builds wells in parts of the world that do not have access to clean water. Bell was instrumental in LOA’s efforts to raise money for building a well in El Salvador. She served for three years as a board member, fund raiser, and finally president. 

“The Thirst Project opened my eyes to the huge impact that can come from something small,” Bell wrote in her application essay. “The idea that a small school in rural Georgia can positively impact a community on the other side of the world was amazing.” This experience has informed her thoughts of a major in International Business. She said in her interview with the Lawton family that she loves being behind fund-raising and can envision herself in a nonprofit …” in suits one day and in torn-up clothes, out in the field, the next.”

Bell was also involved in LOA Miracle, Youth Leadership Greene, and is part of the GA Thespian Society. She was also chosen as the Rotary Student of the Month in October 2020. In addition, she volunteers at Grace Fellowship in Vacation Bible School and with their Celebrate Recovery program. Bell excels academically as well. She challenged herself by taking a number of Advanced Placement (AP) classes and earned the AP Scholar with Distinction, which is awarded to students who score an average of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken and score a 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. She maintained a high GPA while leading and participating in a variety of other projects at LOA including homecoming and other SGA events. In addition, Bell earned the Cornerstone Award at LOA, an award given by faculty and staff to a student who embodies Community, Citizenship and Scholarship. She was also chosen by the administration to serve on the Honor Council.

Bell is described as consistent and dependable: “Hannah does what she says she is going to do.” This fall, she will attend Berry College in Rome, Ga. She has been awarded the Whitehead Scholarship from the college, which is given specifically for young women in service.

Analytical; intelligent; innovative; articulate; empathetic; thoughtful; these are some of the words used by teachers, community members and others to describe Katie Ciavola. Academically, Ciavola places among the top students in her graduating class. Her focus in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) courses, as well as her love of art and design, gives her a unique combination of skills. She reached both AP Scholar with Distinction and National AP Scholar status by scoring an average of 3.5 or 4 on all AP courses taken. She received the Georgia Certificate of Merit award as a junior, which is awarded to students who place in the top 5% of their class during each of the first three years of high school. Ciavola pursued classes that were related to her field of interest — design and mechanics. In 2019, she completed a two-week Industrial Design Pre-College Program at GA Tech, and was also selected to attend GA Tech’s 2019 Women in Engineering Career Conference.

In addition to her academic achievements, Ciavola has also given considerable time and talent to her school and community. She participated in varsity competitive cheerleading at LOA for four years; in addition, she served on Student Government Association for three years and participated in an after-school art camp. She was a member of the 2018-19 Youth Leadership Greene class. She received the Chief Executive Officer Award at LOA as a junior. She was also a Georgia finalist for the Positive Athlete award in her sophomore year, an award for students based on character. She was named a Rotary Student of the Month for September 2020. Her artistic talents were recognized by the Greene County Chamber of Commerce when she won the redesign of their logo in 2020. She founded Pocket Full of Paint, her own custom design business through which she takes old clothes and “restyles” them with hand-painted designs. Perhaps one of the strongest examples of her community spirit is as co-founder and co-director of an after-school cheer and tumbling program for girls at the Pete Nance Boys & Girls Club. Director Stacy McClendon says, “Katie has been committed and consistent in her efforts to help the young ladies improve their skills and talents in cheerleading. She has also been a very good role model and leader to these young ladies by working closely with them and giving them structure and positive influence.” Ciavola wants to combine her love and passion for art and design as she begins her college studies in mechanical engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Lauren Eley is an outstanding scholar and a strong participant in extracurricular activities at Lake Oconee Academy. Eley was named to LOA’s Honor Roll for 9th grade and received High Honors distinction (all A’s, 93 and above) in 10th, 11th and 12th grades. She is a member of Beta Club. She was chosen to participate in the 2018-19 Youth Leadership Greene program. She also was part of the LOA Yearbook staff, the LOA miracle Network, and the FCA Leadership team.

In addition to her school activities, Eley is an award-winning volleyball player, recognized as one of the top players in Georgia. She has led LOA’s volleyball team since she began playing in sixth grade. She has twice been named Best Offensive Player and All-Area player. She is a multi-year team captain and consistently leads all of the off-season workout programs. In 2020, she was named 8A Region Player of the Year, a prestigious award voted on by nine head coaches in the region. The award is given not only for athletic performance but also in recognition of the player’s inspirational attitude and sportsmanship. Chris Ingle, LOA’s head basketball coach, said of Eley, “Her stats speak for themselves … however, the things that set her apart are her fierce competitiveness, her work ethic, and her servant leadership. She will forever be a cornerstone of the volleyball program at Lake Oconee Academy.” Last fall, she received a scholarship to play on the Metro Elite Club Volleyball team out of Athens. She says of the experience, “It is different than school volleyball and definitely more intense, but playing this sport is what I love to do.”

Eley plans to attend Taccoa Falls College in Taccoa Falls, Ga. She wants to build on her passion for sports with a degree in sports management. She would like to continue to work with young women in volleyball, possibly as a coach. It has been a strong and defining part of her life through which she has learned leadership, teamwork and character.

Rylie McDonald has a passion for writing and enthusiasm for the performing arts, and it is evident in her work and in her conversations. She is one of the co-founders of Lake Oconee Academy’s award-winning literary magazine, The Archetype. She served as managing editor in her junior year, and as a senior, Editor-in-Chief. McDonald reflected on these experiences in her scholarship essay, saying that both positions taught her many leadership skills like dealing with conflict as well as making compromises that benefit the greater good. In addition, she learned responsibility, time management skills, and how to successfully organize and plan for the entire team to be able to complete the work required.

Further strength in literacy and literature can be seen in her participation in the Georgia High School Association’s One Act, for which she was named to the All Star Cast in her junior year. She also was a state finalist in the Poetry Out Loud competition, a partnership of the National Endowment for the Arts, the Poetry Foundation, and state arts agencies. So strong is her passion for literature and writing that she will attend the University of North GA this fall with plans to transfer to UGA and enter the Grady School of Journalism to major in English with a goal of professional and public writing. McDonald said, “Literature is timeless and one of the most important things in culture…”

McDonald’s academic strength is evidenced by her earning the AP Scholar award that is granted to students who receive a score of 3 or higher on three or more AP exams. She was also a state semi-finalist in the Governor’s Honors Program as a 10th grader. She maintained high academic standards while being involved in many activities both in and out of school. She was instrumental in fundraising efforts for the LOA Miracle, served as a member of the Farmers and Merchants Bank Junior Board, and is a singer in the Lakeside Church Praise and Worship Team.

A very strong part of McDonald is her faith and her commitment to community service. She has been on a mission trip with her church and seen first-hand what a small group of people can do to help others in need. She was struck by those that benefitted from the funds raised by the LOA Miracle, saying that she always thought they were far away, but in reality, they were right in her community. She is described by one of her pastors as “a leader … humble but confident in the gifts and talents that God has given her.”

This year marks the 6th year that the Lawton Family Scholarship has been awarded to deserving students in Greene County. Currently the largest private scholarship in Greene County, the Scholarship was created by Greg and Anna Lawton. It is a minimum 10-year commitment that awards qualified students the opportunity to pursue their college or vocational dreams. Students are able to fulfill their educational requirements for up to four years if they continue to meet the expectations of the scholarship.

The Lawtons established the direction and purpose of their Scholarship Fund, which is to inspire hope, build futures and transform the lives of teens in Greene County.

The Lawton Family Scholarship Fund is a way in which Greg and Anna Lawton feel they can provide special support to the community they have come to call home. “A quality education is one of our family’s core values,” the Lawtons assert, “and we feel blessed to connect with students in Greene County where this Scholarship Fund can INSPIRE them to ASPIRE to pursue their educational goals without undue financial burden. Our dream is to have many LAWTON SCHOLARS thrive with their educational dreams and pursue careers that positively impact their lives and the future communities where they choose to reside. Our family will be involved as Mentors to these individuals during their educational journey and future work-related roles.”

The Lawton Family Scholarship Fund is administered through ATLAS Ministry, which has been an active part of Greene County since 2006. ATLAS is a Christ-centered community resource that works with families who are committed to setting their lives on a healthy and productive path.