VHS Graduate Kynnade Washington Awarded the $10,000 Bettye Smith Brown Memorial Scholarship

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — Vicksburg High School graduate Kynnade Washington has been named the recipient of the 2025 Bettye Smith Brown Memorial Scholarship. Washington was awarded a $10,000 scholarship to support her college education and was recently presented with a ceremonial check in recognition of her academic accomplishments and goals.

A 2025 graduate of VHS, Washington finished 14th in her class with honors. During her time in high school, she was actively involved in a wide range of extracurricular activities, including serving as a basketball cheerleader and participating in Student Council, Key Club, Yearbook Committee, Leadership Team, National Honor Society, and National Technical Honor Society.

Washington will attend Alcorn State University in the fall, where she plans to major in music education. She hopes to pursue a career as a music teacher and choir director.

The Bettye Smith Brown Memorial Scholarship was created in 2022 by sisters Adrienne A. Mosley and Fayedra Brown-Dear in honor of their late mother, Bettye Smith Brown. A lifelong resident of Vicksburg and strong advocate for education, Smith Brown instilled in her daughters the belief that education is a key to breaking the cycle of poverty.

The scholarship opens annually on January 28, in celebration of the birthday of Smith Brown’s mother. It is available to high school seniors in the Vicksburg Warren School District who hold a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

Washington’s achievement continues the legacy of excellence the scholarship was designed to honor.