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PO Box 188

Lancaster, SC 29721

ph.# 803/285-6488

CONGRATULATIONS!

Jan Blackwell

2010

Heart of Gold Award

Recipient

2009

Mark Blackwell

2007

Bruce Brumfield

2006

Ken Hudson

2005

Hugh Mobley

2004

Katherine Small

2003

Donna Howie

Randy Harris

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."

Proverbs 3: 5-6

God's Hall of Fame

Your name may not appear down here

In this world�s Hall of Fame

In fact you may be so unknown

That no one knows your name;

The headlines here may pass you by

The neon lights of blue

May never come your way,

But if you love and serve the Lord

Then I have news for you.

This Hall of Fame is only good

As long as time shall be;

But keep in mind, God�s Hall of Fame

Is for eternity.

This crowd on earth they soon forget

The heroes of the past

They cheer like mad until you fall

And that�s how long you last.

I tell you friend, I wouldn�t trade

My name however small,

That�s written there beyond the stars

In that celestial Hall,

For all the famous names on earth;

Or glory that they share;

I�d rather be an unknown here,

And have my name up there.

~written by Walt Huntley~

~ recited by Bobby Richardson at the

Matt Blackwell Foundation Dinner

April 22, 2003 ~

Wisdom

Integrity

Never-ending faith

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth�but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven�.For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
�Matthew 6: 19�21

Now faith is the

assurance of things

hoped for, the

conviction of things not seen.
�Hebrews 11:1

A beginning,

And an ending,

Dates upon a stone.

But the moment

In the middle,

Is how we

Will be known.

Scholarship

Dinner

Keynote

Speakers

2010

Dawn Smith Jordan

Singer, Songwriter

Author

Former Miss

South Carolina

2009

Bobby Bentley

Former

Head Football Coach

Byrnes High

Presbyterian College

2008

Adrian Despres

Kingdom Building

Ministries

2006 & 2007

David Bennett

Head Football Coach

Coastal Carolina

University

2005

Dan Janzen

Olympic Gold Medalist

Speedskating

2003

Bobby Richardson

New York Yankee

Legend

2002

Governor

Jim Hodges

Scholarship Dinner

(click to enlarge)

Held in mid-February, the Scholarship Dinner is a time to recognize and honor the latest recipients

of The Matt Blackwell Scholarship. All of the special guest who attend are treated to an evening

of moving musical performances and an inspirational message. Past speakers include former

Governor Jim Hodges , New York Yankee legend Bobby Richardson, Olympic Gold Medalist

Dan Jansen, Coastal Carolina Head Football Coach David Bennett, Adrian Despres and Bobby Bentley.

In 2010, we were blessed to have Dawn Smith Jordan touch our hearts in testimony and

song (see story below).

Congratulations!

Class of 2010

Dawn!

"Choose faith over fear"

~ from the February 19, 2010 article of the Lancaster News, by Chris Sardelli~

Dawn Smith Jordan offered the crowd at the ninth annual Matt Blackwell Foundation scholarship dinner a choice � to embrace faith or fear. �What are you going to choose? To have faith or fall apart?� Jordan asked the crowd, �Know that some good will come out of bad times.�

With her beautiful voice, Jordan sang inspirational songs and touched the hundreds who attended this year�s event. Her message to this year�s scholarship recipients and the crowd was about overcoming obstacles and keeping hope alive. She speaks from experience.

In 1985, her younger sister, Shari, was kidnapped from in front of their family�s home and murdered. The man who abducted Shari taunted the family for weeks, telling them she was safe, before giving directions to find her body. The manhunt for her killer was one of the largest in South Carolina�s history, drawing national attention. Jordan said before her sister was killed, the man let Shari write a goodbye letter to her family. Jordan read the letter to the crowd. �Just keep living one day at a time for Jesus. Some good will come out of this,� Jordan read from the letter. �If y�all stick together like we always did, it will work out.�

Drawing parallels to Larry and Jan Blackwell, who started the Matt Blackwell Foundation in honor of their son, who died in 2001 following an auto accident, Jordan said her family had to make a decision whether to carry on with their lives. She said they took Shari�s advice to keep going and find the good in every situation. �I can�t help but think how this precious family is making a difference here,� Jordan said about the Blackwells.

Jordan went on to become Miss South Carolina in 1986 and second runner-up to Miss America that year. She has since become an inspirational singer, encouraging others not to give up. Dawn is also an author, songwriter, worship leader, and mother of two children, Hannah and Ross. Her full-time Christian ministry touches thousands of lives across the United States and Canada. In Dawn's ministry, she intertwines a combination of music, testimony, humor, transparency, and, most importantly, the Truth in God's word. She appears in over 75 events each year.

Looking at this year�s scholarship winners, Jordan said they exemplify Matt Blackwell�s spirit of not giving up. �I�m so impressed with these young people and all they�re doing and the difference they�re making in the community,� Jordan said. The four students, Atiya Byrd, Jena Hallman, Jacob Roberts, and Katie Truesdale were grateful for being among the 36 total students who have received scholarships through the foundation. �It was quite an honor when I found out,� said Katie Truesdale, a senior at Andrew Jackson High School. Jacob Roberts, the Indian Land High School scholarship recipient said the scholarship will help when he attends Wofford College in Spartanburg in the fall. �I was excited to be named, especially because it will help with my education,� Roberts said. �I was shocked, but happy.�

Larry Blackwell said this year�s scholarship winners carry on the memory of his son. �We had four outstanding young people who excel in the classroom and the community,� he said. �Thanks to God for all he allows us to do in Matt�s name.�

For more information on Dawn Smith Jordan, go to

www.dawnsmithjordan.com

2010 Scholarship Dinner Photos

(click on photo to enlarge)