Nine Franklin County High School graduating seniors were honored with scholarships from the SML Lions Club recently.
The Smith Mountain Lake Lions Club honored nine Franklin County High School students with scholarships at a dinner held May 8.
The SML Lions Club, students, and their families gathered at Copper Cove Golf Club to celebrate their achievements, and to recognize their accomplishments with SML Lions Scholarship awards. In addition to academic excellence, this year’s scholarship recipients have excelled in sports, community service and leadership.
Varsity lacrosse captain Hannah Bird was recognized as best all-around senior and is also a member of the Lions Club International’s youth organization, the Leo Club. Bird has also been a teacher’s aide and a member of the homecoming court. Bird will attend Roanoke College pursuing a degree in animal science.
Madelyn Cressell excels in music and held the position of first-chair trumpet. She also led the color guard as captain. Cressell is a member of the theater club. She also teaches in vacation bible school and is an active Northern Lights missionary at Trinity Ecumenical Church. Cressell enjoys working with children; thus she will attend Emory College to pursue a teaching degree.
An avid runner, Nicholas Guilliams, the captain of the cross-country team, competes on both the indoor and outdoor track teams. Guilliams served as student body representative to the Franklin County School Board. He also serves as a hunger volunteer through the Heavenly Manna Food Pantry and the Empty Bowls Project. He is a special needs volunteer. Guilliams prioritizes health and has decided to pursue a nursing degree at Liberty University.
Madison Ingram, the captain of the softball team, excelled as clean-up hitter on the high school’s softball team. She was also Franklin County High School’s 2025 homecoming queen, and she worked as a lifeguard. Ingram will attend Virginia Western Community College for a radiology technician degree and plans to further her studies at Old Dominion University for a nursing degree.
Westlake Automotive mechanic Mason Johnson already excels in his chosen field. Johnson is a multi-year award winner for automotive tech at Franklin County High as well as a district and state winner for automotive tech. Johnson will advance his mechanical expertise at University of Northwestern Ohio attending the automotive technology program.
Mallery Laprade excels in dance and shares her talent with others as a dance instructor. Laprade is also a member DECA, an organization for emerging leaders and entrepreneurs. She will pursue a degree in nursing at Radford University.
The class valedictorian, Andrew Sapienza, is a soccer referee. Sapienza is also a member of Franklin County High School’s history club and a volunteer at the YMCA. Sapienza is a member of DECA. He will attend Liberty University to pursue a degree in medicine.
Brayden Smith is a National Honor Society member and a decorated eagle scout who has been recognized with numerous excellence awards. Throughout high school Smith has worked at Flora Funeral Home. He will be attending Bright Point Community College pursuing a degree in mortuary science.
To establish a foundation in her intended field of medicine, Abigail Turner volunteers at Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital. She is on the executive board of the Eagle Excellence program, a 4-H counselor and works at Belk. Turner has chosen to attend Randolph Macon College to pursue a degree in pediatric medicine.
The Lions Scholarship Trust was created in 1991 and since then has awarded more than $830,000 in scholarships enabling more than 160 outstanding students to advance their education in pursuit of their chosen fields. Students are selected according to academic excellence in high school, significant extracurricular and community involvement, financial need, positive recommendations from references and application essays.
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Nine Franklin County High School graduating seniors were honored with scholarships from the SML Lions Club recently.
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