Two incoming members of the Class of 2029 receive Stanford Award
Two students who plan to attend Erskine College this fall have been chosen to receive the Stanford Award for 2025. Gavin Cerilli, a graduate of Stuart W. Cramer High School in Belmont, N.C., and Kinley Hooker, a graduate of Wren High School in Piedmont, S.C., recently visited the Erskine campus to receive their award certificates.
Given to “a high school senior who has demonstrated a commitment to the Gospel and to ministry excellence during his or her high school years,” the award is named for the Rev. Henry G. Stanford, Jr. in honor of his faithful service as a pastor and missionary. Stanford is a 1967 graduate of Erskine College and completed his studies at Erskine Theological Seminary in 1983.
Gavin was nominated by the Rev. Josh Hjemvick of First Associate Reformed Presbyterian (ARP) Church, Gastonia, N.C., who serves as his youth pastor. Sensing a call to pastoral ministry, Gavin engages in personal study of scripture and leads Bible studies at his school and in his church. Hjemvick says Gavin has served as a leader for elementary students at Camp Bonclarken as well as for middle school students at First ARP.
Describing his nominee as “a reliable and skilled leader” in youth ministry at First ARP, Hjemvick says Gavin “lives in such a way that that what he is learning, studying, reading” is shared with others “as the natural outworking of the gospel in his life.”
“Gavin’s faith and life in Christ are impacting our middle school students as he challenges them to live out their faith in radical obedience,” Hjemvick reports.
In addition to his work in the church youth group and with church camp attendees, Gavin has led Bible studies for members of his school football team and has presented messages at Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) events.
Kinley was nominated by Executive Director of Ministries Michelle Clary of 5 Point Church in Easley, S.C. as well as by Jeri Carter, a coach for whom Kinley played middle school basketball. Describing Kinley as “a very dedicated volunteer at our church,” Clary says that although her nominee is an active student who has always played sports, she “makes time for serving Jesus and others.” Carter notes that Kinley has served as a student leader in Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA).
A worship leader and small group leader at her church, Kinley also “teaches children how to have the best hour learning about Jesus,” Clary says, and is “a great role model of how to balance school, sports, and church.”
“This past summer, she helped serve as a ‘huddle leader’ for our community FCA basketball camp. At our Fields of Faith event this fall, Kinley shared her testimony with her peers,” Carter says. “I have observed her living out her faith daily at Wren High School.
The Stanford Award is an Erskine College scholarship initiated by Director of Campus Ministries and External Relations Jamie Williams, who served for 30 years in ministry before joining the Erskine College staff.
Williams says Henry G. Stanford, Jr., for whom the scholarship is named, “is the man who led me to the Lord and baptized me,” and he is grateful to him as well as to the individuals and congregations who supported the scholarships he received as a student.
“This is a fund that will celebrate students who have a love for the gospel ministry with a financial award that will help them come to the very special campus of Erskine College.”
It is a privilege to recognize the generosity of the donors who made this year’s awards possible. Individual donors include Shirley Adams, Lamar Atkins, Chris Brown, Kenny Campbell, Tim Clark, James Cochran, Mark DuBose, Kay Hiott, Beth Kennerly, James Martin, Grace Karvelas McDuffie, Kathleen Moore, Henry Stanford, Marty Stanford, Margaret Waldrop, Shirley Walton, David White, Jamie Williams, and Phyllis Williams. Business and church donors include Bethel Baptist Church, Sumter, S.C.; China One, Honea Path, S.C.; Holly Springs Baptist Church, Inman, S.C.; and Los Palenques, Honea Path, S.C.
