Members of the Watson-Brown Foundation Junior Board are (front row, l-r) Erica Bettross, President Molly Newsome, Allegra Yeley, Secretary Laura Lemley, Vice-President Bonnie Bounds, (middle row) Historian Jamie Russell, Liz Grant, Kimber Kirkland, Delaney Russell, (back) John Spivey, Parliamentarian David Russell, Spencer Swinson, and Chris Hearon. The Watson Brown Foundation is pleased to introduce its 2006-2007 Junior Board which includes five high school students from Wilkes County.

"This wonderful group of young ladies and gentlemen represents high schools from throughout the CSRA. They are dedicated to the preservation of historic places and historic artifacts," explained Michelle Zupan, curator. In 2007, the junior board will be awarding $25,000 in grant funds to local historical societies and organizations also dedicated to the preservation of Southern history.

Comprising this year's Junior Board are Molly Newsome, Delaney Russell, and Spencer Swinson of Washington-Wilkes Comprehensive High School; Bonnie Bounds of Briarwood Academy and the University of Georgia; and Liz Grant of Briarwood; along with Erica Bettross of Thomson High School; Kimber Kirkland of Lincoln County High School; Jamie Russell, John Spivey, David Russell of Briarwood Academy; Allegra Yeley of the Davidson Fine Arts School; Chris Hearon of Westminster Schools; and Laura Lemley of Augusta Prep.

The Junior Board is a self-selecting board that has been in existence since the 2000-2001 school year. To date, they have awarded more than $140,000 in grant funding to dozens of organizations in the CSRA. The projects they have supported are wide ranging. Among them have been the restoration of the Gertrude Herbert Institute's portico, a film digitization effort at the Morris Museum of Art, restoration of a Signal Corps pole truck at the Signal Corps Museum of Ft. Gordon, conservation of the Wrightsboro Cemetery, conservation of the Jefferson Rifles flag, conservation of the Confederate Survivors banner of Wilkes County, interpretive signage at historic sites in Elberton, replacement of a historic boxwood hedge at the Robert Toombs House, and restoration of a grist mill at the Lincoln County Historical Society.

Applications for grants will be accepted from December 15 through March 1. Please contact Michelle Zupan at 706-595-7777 to receive an application. Applications for vacant seats on the Junior Board will be accepted from August 1 - September 20, 2007.