AFCEA Henry M. Chestnut Scholarship Awarded to Two High School Seniors

Abigail Bias (left) and Ria Tamrakar (right) are the 2024 recipients of the Henry M. Chestnut Scholarship awarded through the Augusta-Ft. Gordon AFCEA Educational Foundation. Each student will receive $2,000 to use towards their college degree.

Abigail graduated from Greenbrier High School and plans to major in Biology at the University of Georgia. Ria graduated from Evans High School and plans to major in Public Health at Mercer University.

We created the Henry M. Chestnut Scholarship in 2019 to honor of Ben’s beloved father, Henry M. Chestnut, whose military career helped inspire his love of technology and industrial design. It’s an annual scholarship for two students who have shown excellence in STEM subjects and who plan to seek a bachelor’s degree in a STEM-related field at a four-year institution or community college, so long as they intend to transfer and complete their bachelor’s degree. The Augusta-Ft. Gordon chapter’s scholarship committee selects the recipients every year.

Ben Chestnut was a recipient of an AFCEA scholarship in 1996, which proved to be transformational. We’re proud to give students this same opportunity and wish Abigail and Ria the best of luck as they continue their studies!

2024 Henry M. Chestnut Scholarship Awarded to Students at Bay High School

The Chestnut Family Foundation is proud to announce the recipients of the 2024 Henry M. Chestnut Scholarship in honor of Mr. Pears at Bay High School. This year, the scholarship was awarded to 20 students who will each receive $2,000 to be used towards their college expenses.

• Tyler Fredeking, Gulf Coast State College, plans to major in Nursing or Business

• Christian Samuel, Haney Technical School, plans to focus on aircrafts

• Sakura Ashley, Gulf Coast State College, plans to major in Nursing

• Jarkievia Bowden, University of West Florida, plans to major in Nursing or Psychology

• Karen Fernandez, Gulf Coast State College, plans to major in Psychology and Sonography

• Mary Carroll, Savannah College of Art and Design, plans to major in Illustration

• Kendyl Harry, Flagler College, plans to major in Elementary Education or Special Education

• Kaylee Dupuis, Gulf Coast State College, undecided on major

• Kaya Sunseri, University of South Florida, plans to major in Biomedical Sciences

• Klayton Keen, University of Central Florida or the University of Florida, plans to major in Music Education

• Larkin Johnson, Paul Mitchell Cosmetology School

• Katheryne Corral, Nova Southeastern University, plans to major in Marine Biology

• Jasmine Pender, Florida A&M University, plans to major in Business Administration

• D.J. Cruel, Florida A&M University, plans to major in Theatre Performance and Music Education

• Bella Rose Cook, University of West Florida, plans to major in Exercise Science

• Ranecya Gathers, Florida Atlantic University, plans to major in Architectural Design

• Adriana Cruz Betancourth, Gulf Coast State College, plans to major in Business Management

• Elijah Knox-Brennan, University of Central Florida, plans to major in Engineering

• Estella McGinity, University of Florida, plans to major in Microbiology

• Elizabeth Colwell, University of Notre Dame or University of Florida, plans to major in Architecture

We wish these students the best of luck as they continue their education in college!

$450,000 Three Year Commitment to the Chastain Horse Park

The Chestnut Family Foundation has donated $450,000 to the Chastain Horse Park to support the expansion of its therapeutic programs. The donation will be used primarily to fund additional access to the programs, including students in special needs classes of Title 1 schools within Atlanta Public Schools.

Chastain Horse Park is committed to empowering individuals of all abilities through life-changing relationships with horses. Through its therapeutic programs, Chastain Horse Park serves individuals with a broad range of physical, cognitive and emotional abilities and all socioeconomic backgrounds. They currently conduct over 5,200 therapeutic sessions each year with a focus on the disability community.

We have witnessed the powerful impact of the Chastain Horse Park’s work on young people with disabilities and deeply appreciate being able to play a role in the expansion of their programming.

$1,142,000 Two-Year Commitment to the Atlanta Music Project

The Chestnut Family Foundation has made a two-year $1,142,000 commitment to our longtime partner, Atlanta Music Project (AMP). The funds will be used to support the development of AMP teaching artists, the new full-time Music Career Counselor position, AMP’s partnerships within local public schools, and bolster AMP’s two new endowments. This is our largest single gift to AMP and reflects our continued belief in the positive impact AMP has on some of our most under-resourced communities. 

Atlanta Music Project is a creative and award-winning youth development program, which uses the discipline of music to help children and teens develop the social, emotional, and cognitive skills they need to succeed.

We are very grateful to be a small part of AMP’s growth and development, and to support its outstanding leaders, team members, and students.

$25,000 Gift to Clark’s Christmas Kids

The Chestnut Family Foundation donated $25,000 to Clark’s Christmas Kids 2023. This donation helped support the collection of enough gifts to ensure that seven thousand children in foster care received at least three gifts on Christmas morning.

We are delighted to continue to support the wonderful work of Clark’s Christmas Kids which has provided Christmas gifts to children in the Georgia foster care system for 33 years.