About the Evelyn A. Russell Scholar Award
The Evelyn A. Russell Scholar Award is presented to outstanding students at P.S. 25 The Eubie Blake School in Brooklyn who demonstrate a commitment to and appreciation for the language arts.
Ms. Evelyn Russell, a student at P.S. 25 in the late 1950s, loved reading and writing. Evelyn was a dedicated scholar throughout her years in school and after. She received her degree in English from Brooklyn College. She became an editor at Bowker Books in New York. Later, she moved to Washington, DC, and became an editor at Congressional Quarterly, where she tracked government bills as they went through Congress. Evelyn instilled a love of learning and books in her children Adam, Aprille and Aisha Russell. Evelyn Russell passed away in 2005. Evelyn’s children and her P.S. 25 best friend Bernice Green established the Evelyn A. Russell Scholar Award in her honor.
Evelyn believed that wherever she traveled, Brooklyn was a special place and it would always have a home in her heart. She also believed that reading books was like traveling because books could take you somewhere new. Evelyn Russell was a lifelong learner.
To apply for the Evelyn A. Russell Scholar Award, interested P.S. 25 students should submit to their teacher an essay of 300-500 words on why reading is important to them. The top three essays will be sent to the Russell family with the winning essays chosen based on the following criteria: 1.) following the assigned topic, 2.) vocabulary and 3.) creativity. A certificate and cash award will be presented to students with winning essays.