Southern Gospel News SGNScoops Digital

Share America Foundation chooses young singer for scholarship

The Share America Foundation, Inc. announced its first 2012 scholarship winner recently at its Sacred Sounds Fridays concert at the Ringgold Depot in Ringgold, Ga.

The events help fund the organization’s Pearl and Floyd Franks Scholarship. Pearl and Floyd Franks are the late parents and former entertainment managers of actor/entertainer Randall Franks, “Officer Randy Goode” from TV’s “In the Heat of the Night.” The scholarships honor students excelling in the Appalachian musical arts.

Nicholas Hickman, 12, of Ringgold, Ga. was selected as the Catoosa County Designee for the scholarship. He attends Ringgold Middle School.

“One of our annual scholarships is set aside for a performer from Catoosa County, Ga. There were no applicants from Catoosa this year, so the board of directors chose to select a candidate and award the 2012 scholarship in the year that candidate attends college,” Franks said. “Nicholas is carrying on the traditional music of this region through his learning the basics of vocal techniques used in gospel singing for generations.”

The requirements for designees to receive the scholarship are to fulfill the application requirements in the year he or she enrolls in college immediately following graduation and to continue performing the Appalachian musical style of their choice, according to Franks.

Hickman began singing at the age of three when he stepped on stage with entertainer James Rogers. Recently, Nicholas was winner of Georgia’s “Gospel’s Got Talent” contest, where he placed first in his division. Prior to this, he led his elementary school chorus to receive a second call back with “America’s Got Talent” auditions in Atlanta.

Within the last year, he has traveled with show choir, “SingAkadamie” to Hawaii, where he received a three minute standing ovation at the 3000 seat Blaisdale Concert Hall, singing his signature song, “Amen,” arranged by his private vocal coach, and talent advisor, Sheri Thrower.

He was recently featured on a gospel music video with gospel music legend Phil Cross.

Nicholas is the son of Brent and Barbara Hickman and brother of Zach Carmical, all of Ringgold Ga. He is the grandson of Edward and Carolyn Hickman of Ringgold, Ga. and Jack and Mary Cooper of Chattanooga, Tenn.

Share America Foundation Board members include Franks, president; Joe Turner, chairman; Gene Lowery, vice chairman; James Pelt, secretary and Jerry Robinson, Sr., vice president and Adam Cathey.

The next concert is July 13, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. featuring the Watkins Family and Mountain Cove Bluegrass at the Ringgold Depot in Ringgold. Admission is a $5 donation.

For more information about the organization and its programs, contact Share America, P.O. Box 42, Tunnel Hill, Ga. 30755 or visit www.shareamericafoundation.org.

Share America Foundation chooses bluegrass bass player for scholarshi​p

ShareHolloway,MikeAward: Mike Holloway (second from right) receives
the 2011 Pearl and Floyd Franks Scholarship from Randall Franks
(right), Share America Foundation president; and SAF Chairman Joe
Turner (second from left) and SAF Secretary James Pelt. (Share America
photo)

 The Share America Foundation, Inc. announced its second 2011
scholarship winner recently at its Sacred Sounds Fridays concert
featuring Testimony Quartet at the Ringgold Depot in Ringgold, Ga.

The events help fund the organization’s Pearl and Floyd Franks
Scholarship. Pearl and Floyd Franks are the late parents and former
entertainment managers of actor/entertainer Randall Franks, “Officer
Randy Goode” from TV’s “In the Heat of the Night.” The scholarships
honor students excelling in the Appalachian musical arts.

“My first performance with Bill Monroe found me on stage with an
instrument that was almost completely foreign to me – a bass fiddle,
it takes a great deal of talent to play one well,” Franks said. “Our
recipient certainly does play well and I know this talent will only
enhance the paths he follows in life.”

Mike Holloway, 18, of Signal Mountain, Tenn. graduated from Signal
Mountain High School and now attends University of Tennessee in
Knoxville.

“Music is what makes me who I am,” he said. “One thing I have learned
from my musical experiences is in a room of 20 or more languages, the
common denominator is bluegrass.”

He began playing bass with fellow students learning to become part of
a new band – the Mountain Cove Bluegrass Band.

“Being with this band has changed me,” he said. “It has taught me to
work with others, communicate with people with a foreign language, and
accomplish goals that might seem impossible.”

Mike said he plans to use the  $1,000 scholarship towards his
educational needs to get a degree aerospace engineering.

“I have been taught to never give up and I believe anything is
possible as long as I have a goal,” he said.

He plays bass with the Mountain Cove Bluegrass Band. For more
information, visit www.mountaincovebluegrass.com.

Mike is the son of Donnie and Macel Holloway of Signal Mountain, Tenn.
He is the grandson of Ken and Thelma Holloway of Signal Mountain.,
Tenn. and Macel and the late Emerson Hubbard of Wise, Virginia.

He continues a family legacy passed from his grandfather Ken Holloway,
who plays several instruments and is a coordinator of the long-running
production at the Mountain Opry in Signal Mountain, Tenn.

Share America Foundation Board members include Franks, president; Joe
Turner, chairman; Gene Lowery, vice chairman; James Pelt, secretary
and Jerry Robinson, Sr., vice president and Adam Cathey.

Share’s next fundraising event is Friday, Nov. 11 at 7:45 p.m. at the
Ringgold Depot, Ringgold, Ga.  featuring the Internationally known
comedian and musical impressionist Johnny Counterfit and the Jeff
Hullender Family. Donation is $5.

For more information about the organization and its programs, contact
Share America, P.O. Box 42, Tunnel Hill, Ga. 30755 or visit
www.shareamericafoundation.org.

Appalachian Regional Commission highlights talents of Randall Franks and the Watkins Family

The Appalachian Ambassador of the Fiddle Randall Franks, “Officer Randy Goode” from TV’s “In the Heat of the Night,” and bluegrass gospel performers The Watkins Family entertained leaders from 13 Appalachian states at the Appalachian Regional Commission Conference at the Forum Civic Center Arena in Rome, Ga. recently.
“I was so honored that the Watkins Family and I were selected to represent Georgia, our hometowns of Toccoa and Ringgold, and our wonderful musical heritage in front of these distinguished guests to our state,” Franks said. “It is wonderful the opportunities that God allows us in life.”
The focus of the conference was Appalachia’s Educational Assets – Investing in a Skilled Future.
Franks is president of the non-profit Share America Foundation, Inc. that awards Pearl and Floyd Franks scholarships to musicians carrying on the tradition of Appalachian musical styles each year.
The Watkins Family includes matriarch Judy Watkins and her three adult children Todd, Lorie and Shanon and multi-instrumentalist Jonathan Maness. The group includes several educators that share their skills with youth.
Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue, who serves as ARC 2010 states’ co-chair, hosted the event. He and Earl F. Gohl, Appalachian Regional Commission federal co-chair, welcomed both performers and Perdue even took a little musical advice from them as he pulled the bow across Franks’s fiddle strings.“Georgia is full of really good people, hard working folks that I love, you are going to hear from some of those tonight, musicians that talk about the music of our land, our hearts, our spirits, they really tell you who we are…the soul of the South is our music,” said Gov. Perdue. Mike Beatty, Georgia Department of Community Affairs commissioner, brought Franks to the stage telling attendees they were “in for a treat” as Franks presented a program of country comedy also sharing from Georgia’s rich musical history spanning Fiddlin’ John Carson’s 1923 recording of “The Little Ole Log Cabin in the Lane” to his own hit “The Old Black Fiddle,” a prequel to Charlie Daniels’ “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.”The Watkins Family shared a selection of songs from their “Heaven’s Worth Waiting For” CD including their current two chart songs “Sometimes You Gotta Rock the Boat” and “She’s Working on Her Testimony.”
“The opportunity to continue our family legacy of hope and encouragement through music in front of these influential attendees from across the Appalachian region just took our breath away,” said Lorie Watkins. “We were so honored to be included.”

Share America Foundation Chooses Bluegrass Vocalist and Musician for Scholarship

The Share America Foundation, Inc. announced its 2010 scholarship winner recently at its Sacred Sounds Fridays concert at the Ringgold Depot in Ringgold, Ga.
The events help fund the organization’s Pearl and Floyd Franks Scholarship. Pearl and Floyd Franks are the late parents and former entertainment managers of actor/entertainer Randall Franks, “Officer Randy Goode” from TV’s “In the Heat of the Night.” The scholarships honor students excelling in the Appalachian musical arts.
Raven Welch, 18, of Mineral Bluff, Ga. was selected as one of the 2010 recipients. She received a $1,000 scholarship.
While presenting the award Share America Chairman Joe Turner praised the young performer that he has known from her childhood.
“Raven is such a talented young lady who I know will go far with whatever she does in life,” he said. “Along the way, I know she will bring with her this wonderful musical heritage that she shares to encourage others.”
She graduated from Fannin County High School in Blue Ridge, Ga. Welch said she will use the scholarship towards her educational needs at North Georgia College and State University in Dahlonega to become a physical therapist.
“As long as I can remember, music has always played a major role in my life; I can’t remember my life prior to becoming involved in music,” Welch said.
Welch said she began her musical studies on piano and moved on to other instruments including the mandolin.
“Not only have these instruments taught me the importance of practicing and patience, but it has helped me to develop a higher level of confidence in a public forum.”
Welch formed the Raven Welch Band in 2007. She said the opportunity to work regularly with other passionate musicians on stage has enhanced her musical and vocal abilities.
“While on stage, I thoroughly enjoy performing, but I also love to see the joy and fun that it brings to the audience,” she said. “Music has enriched my life and it has helped me to meet many new people and learn life lessons.
“I want to share the love and joy that music has brought to my life,” she said.
Welch appeared at Sacred Sounds Fridays performing two sets with her band featuring David Anderson on guitar, Jamie Mason on banjo and Rhett Dennis playing bass.“I know that Raven will yield great success and many opportunities through her love of music,” Franks said. “She has a wonderful presence, tremendous talents and no matter where God leads her in life, the gift of love from those who support our Pearl and Floyd Franks Scholarship go with her.”She said she plans to continue performing around her studies. Her latest CD is entitled “More to Go to Heaven For” and more information can be found at www.RavenWelch.com.Welch is the daughter of Jeannene Welch of Mineral Bluff, Ga. and Alton Welch of McCaysville, Ga. and the granddaughter of Sam and Shirley Jones of Mineral Bluff, Ga. and Rhoda and the late Earl Welch of McCaysville, Ga.
Share America Foundation Board members include Franks, Turner, Gene Lowery, vice chairman; Adam Cathey, secretary and Jerry Robinson, Sr., vice president.For more information about the organization and its programs, contact Share America, P.O. Box 42, Tunnel Hill, Ga. 30755 or visit www.shareamericafoundation.org or www.myspace.com/shareamerica.