Patrick Lindsay and Justin Yerkie.CHESTERTOWN, MD—Kent County High School seniors Patrick Lindsay and Justin Yerkie have been awarded Vincent Hynson Scholarships at Washington College, where they will start classes in the fall. Now in its tenth year, the endowed four-year Hynson Scholarship is presented to an entering freshman from a Kent County school who demonstrates financial need and whose achievements and aspirations emulate the values of community service exemplified by the life of the late Rev. Vincent Hynson. 

A 1987 alumnus of Washington College, Vincent Hynson was a dedicated and beloved teacher, coach, pastor and community leader in Kent County who died of cancer in 2004. The scholarship in his honor was created in 2006 and has been supported by private donors and foundations. In addition, from 2006 through 2014, the Kent County-based 100-Voice Choir held annual gospel concerts to raise awareness and funds for the scholarship. Previous Vincent Hynson Scholars are Joyell Johnson ’10, Christalyn Frison Grandison ’11, and Darius Johnson ’15. 

Patrick C. Lindsay, the son of Robert and Kelly Lindsay of Fairlee, has enjoyed participating in drama productions at Kent County High School, bringing down the house as Wilbur Turnblad in Hairspray and playing The Comfort Counselor in The 25thAnnual Putnam County Spelling Bee. He also has performed on the Church Hill Theatre stage, as “Slim” in Oklahoma and “Stewpot” in South Pacific.  As a volunteer, he has been involved with the high school’s Interact Club, a community service club affiliated with Rotary International, and with Emmanuel Church, where he has worked in the nursery. 

In his scholarship essay, Lindsay described Vincent Hynson as a man driven by a desire to improve his community, “to take fate by the reins and make your home somewhere you want to live,” which he accomplished through education and coaching, and through faith and spiritual leadership. “In my small way I seek to emulate his service,” Lindsay wrote. “Inclusiveness, making sure any person can feel welcomed and secure amongst their neighbors, is really the key to service in communities, and that’s something I want to carry with me through my whole life. Respect for differences, honesty and transparency with others, and the basic ability to lend a hand to anyone — these are things I strive for in my everyday dealings. This is the key to upholding Rev. Hynson’s legacy.” 

Justin Yerkie, son of Bobby and Gail Yerkie of Rock Hall, credits both parents for teaching him morals and values. His mother, in particular, has led by example, he wrote in his essay. “She taught me very well that there are others in the community that are worse off and that I should try my best to help them. She is a selfless individual who has always helped her community.” 

Yerkie joined the Rock Hall Volunteer Fire Company his sophomore year and recently completed EMT training. He also has tutored at the Kent County Learning Center, helping older learners prepare for their GED tests, and was invited to join the program’s board of directors. “I took this opportunity to help give back to the older individuals in the county that wanted to further their education,” he wrote about his work with the Learning Center. “This has introduced me to many good people, while also helping these people achieve their goals.” Yerkie co-founded the Interact Club at Kent County High School, and was a varsity athlete in golf and baseball. He recently was named the Class Valedictorian and is the Kent County winner of Northrop Grumman’s Engineering Scholars scholarship, which provides $10,000 over four years. “I definitely want to pursue engineering,” he says.