Apr 23, 2023

Library announces 2023 Joe McKenzie Scholarship recipients

Posted Apr 23, 2023 11:16 PM
<b>The 2023 Joe McKenzie Scholarship recipients are, from left,&nbsp;Adrie Powell, Alaina Motes, Lilianna Brown, and Jayson Lucero.</b> Photo courtesy Salina Public Library
The 2023 Joe McKenzie Scholarship recipients are, from left, Adrie Powell, Alaina Motes, Lilianna Brown, and Jayson Lucero. Photo courtesy Salina Public Library

By SALINA POST

The Salina Public Library has announced the recipients of the 2023 Joe McKenzie Scholarship.

Funded by the Friends of the Salina Public Library, the scholarship is named in honor of Joe McKenzie, the former library director who retired in 2017 after 40 years of service. The scholarship is for high school seniors planning to attend college who have volunteered in the library's Youth Services Department and at Friends of the Salina Public Library used book sales.

Recipients of the 2023 Joe McKenzie Scholarship are Lilianna Brown, Jayson Lucero, Alaina Motes, and Adrie Powell. Each will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

Following is information about each recipient courtesy the Salina Public Library.

Lilianna Brown attends Salina Central where she is a member of the National Honor Society and the Thespian Troupe. She participated in Cross County and is a graphic artist for the school newspaper. She plans to attend the University of Kansas. Her career aspirations include being a writer and illustrator. She is the daughter of Christopher and Christine Brown.

Jayson Lucero attends Salina South. He is involved with National Honor Society. He has been on the President’s Honor Roll all four years of high school. He plans to attend Salina Area Technical College and then transfer to Fort Hays where he hopes to get a Master of Liberal Studies degree in Art History. His future plans include working in a museum. He is the son of Mary Baird and David Lucero.

Alaina Motes is a student at Sacred Heart Jr./Sr. High School. She has played in pep band and played tennis for all four years of high school. She has also been on the Honor Roll all four years. She plans to attend Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Ind. She is the daughter of Theresa and Dustin Motes.

Adrie Powell is a senior at Salina South where she is very active in band (marching, concert, pep, contest, and the Kansas Shrine Bowl). She is also a member of the drama club and National Honor Society. She plans to attend Emporia State University to get a bachelor’s degree in graphic design and a master’s degree in library science. She is the daughter of Lori and Darren Wilson and Brandon Powell.