The 2021 Dickie Noel Memorial Scholarship was recently awarded to Jalin Keaton, a 2021 graduate of Summers County High School.
Jalin was a member of the National Honor Society, Beta Club and the Summers County High School football team. He was senior captain of the football team and a three-time All Coalfield Conference selection. He is a member of the First United Methodist Church in Hinton.
Jalin will attend New River Community and Technical College to study automotive mechanics. He hopes to one day open his own shop in Hinton, give back to the local sports programs and possibly start his own scholarship as a way to pay the community back.
He is the son of Jason Keaton of Hinton. Jalin is a second-generation recipient of the Dickie Noel Memorial Scholarship as his dad, Jason, was the recipient of this scholarship 25 years ago.
The scholarship was established in September 1988 in memory of Richard “Dickie” Noel, a 1982 graduate of Hinton High School and 1986 graduate of Concord College, to honor and encourage a Summers County High School Senior Athlete.
The award is based on that student’s outstanding moral character, academic achievement, motivation, and positive attitude. This scholarship is for $10,000 to be awarded as $5,000 per semester.
In 1989 Dickie’s friends began an annual golf tournament in his memory to help fund the scholarship. The tournament will mark its 32nd tournament on June 5 at Willowwood Golf Course in Hinton.
Fifty-five students have received the Dickie Noel Scholarship since its inception. $195,050 has been awarded!
Congratulations and best wishes to Jalin from the Noel Family!
