charles oatman memorial award
In remembrance of Charles Oatman, the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History, in conjunction with the 1970 Augusta Riot 50th Observance Committee would like to initiate the Charles Oatman Memorial Award.
The Charles Oatman Memorial Award will be awarded each spring starting in 2021. The award will target students that reside in the areas that were most affected by the events of May 11-12, 1970. There will be two $1,000.00 awards given each year. Each interested student will be required to submit a brief written or digital essay along with one letter of recommendation from an educator or administrator. The cash award can be used by the graduating senior for a variety of purposes: college fees, creating a digital application, starting a business, creating a work of art, etc. The awardee will be required to check in with the 1970 Augusta Riot Committee twice: 6 months after they have received the award and again a year after receipt of the award. The projects undertaken by the young people will be displayed on the Lucy Craft Laney Museum website and Facebook page as well as the 1970 Augusta Riot website and Facebook page.
We would love for your organization to assist us in the financial component to the award. We are asking businesses and organizations to donate $1,000-$2,000 dollars. This will allow us to sustain the award for many years to come.
Young Charles never had the opportunity to graduate from A.R. Johnson or go on to graduate from Lucy Craft Laney High School, but it is our sincere hope that this memorial award will allow other young people from the Laney-Walker and Bethlehem communities to realize their dreams and in doing so honor the memory of Charles Oatman.