Calaboose Museum awards first annual Johnnie Armstead Memorial Scholarship Awards

The Calaboose African American History Museum has selected three graduating seniors of San Marcos High School to receive the first annual Johnnie Armstead Memorial Scholarships based on their demonstrated scholastic excellence, leadership, character and perseverance. This year’s recipients were each awarded $600 on Friday, May 15. This year’s awardees are: Erica Strait, Megan Crawford, and Javier Gonzales.

Strait is a talented student and athlete who graduated in the top 25% of her class, studying in the Health and Human Services Career Track as well as taking pre-AP and AP classes. She is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Health Occupations Student Association. She also earned top honors in the Boys & Girls Club leadership group, the Torch Club.

Crawford focused on health care studies throughout high school and plans to pursue a nursing degree at Tarleton State University. She received certifications and awards for excellence in band, leadership and scholarship, including National Honor Society and Outstanding Leadership and served as President of the Health Occupations Student Association.

Gonzales is a talented musician, a section leader for both the Varsity Mixed and Varsity Men’s ensemble. He has successfully managed an academically rigorous schedule, a busy extra-curricular program and maintained an after-school job, proving his ability to juggle demands on his time and attention and a strong work ethic.

This scholarship program has been founded in honor of Mrs. Johnnie Armstead, founder of the Calaboose African American History Museum. Mrs. Armstead’s goal when she started the museum in 1997 was to preserve and honor the memories and contributions of African Americans in Hays County. The museum’s permanent collection contains more than 500 items, including photographs, letters, books, textiles, drawings and other artifacts. The museum is housed in the first Hays County jail, built in 1873, located at 200 W Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive. Learn more about the Calaboose at their website: https://www.calaboosemuseum.org/.

•Submitted by the Calaboose African American History Museum