Submitted photos From left are Tygarts Valley High School student Mason Phillips; Justin Thompson, chairman of Pilgrim Commandery #21's Education Committee; Elkins High School student Preston Nixon; and Rachel Himes, another Elkins High School student.

ELKINS – Pilgrim Commandery #21 Knights Templar awarded the Owens Family Memorial Scholarship to three Randolph County students on April 25.

“The scholarships awarded this year were in the amount of $2640 each, which is the highest amount we have ever awarded in our 37 years of awarding the scholarship,” said Justin Thompson, chairman of Pilgrim Commandery #21 Knights Templar’s Education Committee. “Our annual investment return was much higher, which allowed us to increase the amount of each scholarship by more than 260% this year.”

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Elkins High School student Preston Nixon is honored by Justin Thompson, chairman of Pilgrim Commandery #21’s Education Committee.

The three scholarships were awarded to:

Mason Phillips, a Tygarts Valley High School student, is planning to major in pharmancy at West Virginia University. He hopes to practice as a pharmacist in the hospital.

Preston Nixon, an Elkins High School student, is planning to major in Respiratory Care at Marshall University. He hopes to work as a respiratory therapist in the hospital setting.

Rachel Himes, an Elkins High School student, is planning to major in Pre-Med Biology at West Virginia University. He is planning to pursue a career as an anesthesiologist.

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Elkins High School student Rachel Himes is congratulated by Justin Thompson, chairman of Pilgrim Commandery #21’s Education Committee.

Each scholarship can be used at public or private institutions, either in or out of the state of West Virginia.

“We’ve been handing out this scholarship since 1989,” Thompson told The Inter-Mountain previously.

The information for applying for the scholarships was sent to all four Randolph County high schools’ guidance officers earlier this year.

“The scholarships are available because a doctor passed away back in 1989 and left us part of his estate,” Thompson said. “Each year with the interest that is drawn off that account, we are able to give the scholarships to students.”

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Tygarts Valley High School student Mason Phillips is honored by Justin Thompson, chairman of Pilgrim Commandery #21’s Education Committee.

Thompson said giving out the annual scholarships is just one of the many things the Pilgrim Commandery No. 21 Knights Templar does throughout the year. The local organization currently has 138 members.

“We donate to many organizations, including the Knights Templar Eye Foundation for research,” said Thompson. “We also raise money to send a local pastor to the Holy Land so they can walk in the same footsteps that Jesus did…

“We’ve made several donations to Warriors in the Field here in Elkins, as well as to the Little League ball teams in Elkins and Tygarts Valley. Two more of the many organizations we donate to are the American Red Cross and Salvation Army. We try to help as much as we can.”