This year’s recipients of the Turner Battle Scholarship at Rocky Mount Academy have been announced and honored at a recent reception for students, parents and Foundation Trustees.

The scholarship, given for a student’s “outstanding record of scholarship, college potential, leadership and school spirit” has been awarded for the 2011-12 school year to Lee Arnold, Ashley Bissette, Meg Deyton, Megan Griffin, Raven Norton, Nicholas Place, Ann Claire Roberson and Olivia Roberson.

The Turner W. Battle Scholarship was established in 1974 in honor of Rocky Mount Academy’s founding board chairman. Battle and a group of local businessmen founded RMA in 1968, and he served as its chairman for six years. The scholarship was set up by the Board of Directors at the time of Battle’s resignation from the board in 1974, shortly before his death.

“Mr. Battle probably had no idea of the impact of his actions back in 1968. Now, 43 years later, Rocky Mount Academy has educated thousands of the region’s children, and it is so fitting that his legacy lives on with this scholarship,” Turner W. Battle Scholarship Foundation Chairman David M. Warren said. “We are so impressed by this class of Turner Battle Scholarship recipients. Their credentials are outstanding. Of course, they are all academically gifted. But, it pleases us so much to hear of their leadership in and out of school as well as their aspirations for life. We’ve had a couple of opportunities to mix with these scholarship recipients, and it is always a pleasure. If they are any indication of this generation, we’re in good hands. Mr. Battle would be so supportive of our helping these fine students.”

Foundation Trustees also include Richard Battle, son of Turner Battle, and Jeffrey A. Batts, local attorney and son of founding Board member, Jeff Batts. All three Trustees graduated from Rocky Mount Academy in 1977. The scholarship is awarded annually to current students at RMA.