NILES — For the past 53 years, the Niles Interfaith Banquet has brought Niles area churches together while also honoring local graduating high school seniors.

This year’s annual event had to be canceled in April because of the coronavirus pandemic, but the planning committee wanted to award four local seniors with scholarships.

Georgeanne Walters of First Christian Church in Niles and awards committee chairwoman, said the presentation would have been held at the banquet for the graduates.

“We wanted to honor these students for all the hard work they have done for their churches, at school and in their communities,” she said.

Receiving $500 scholarships were:

l Meredith Blair of Mineral Ridge Church of Christ. Blair graduated from Mineral Ridge High School and plans to attend Kent State University for political science. She is the daughter of Gil and Gaye Blair of Mineral Ridge;

l Kyra Franklin of Niles First Christian Church. Franklin graduated from Joseph Badger High School and will attend Eastern Gateway Community College to study education. She is the daughter of Mike and Jeanette Franklin of Trumbull County;

Receiving $300 scholarships were:

l Hayden Miller of Niles First Christian. Miller graduated from Niles McKinley High School and will attend Youngstown State University for graphic design. He is the son of Kathy Miller of Niles.

l Matthew Novicky of Mineral Ridge Church of Christ. Novicky graduated from Austintown Fitch High School and will enter the U.S. Army. He is the son of Matt and Sheila Novicky of Austintown.

Each student also received a plaque made possible by the Niles Lions Club.

“We had a very good selection of applicants. All the people who read over the applicants’ information agreed they were deserving of this,” Walters said.

The scholarships are given in memory of Thomas Murphy, who along with the Rev. Bernard Oakes, retired pastor from Niles First Christian Church, started the Interfaith Banquet 53 years ago. Neil Guliano also was active in coordinating the banquet for many years.

Sam Mohn, of Niles First United Methodist Church and banquet chairman, said he wanted to make sure the students were recognized and received their scholarships,

The Niles Interfaith Committee includes representatives from different churches in the Niles and Mineral Ridge areas.

bcoupland@tribtoday.com