The Botetourt County Democratic Party awarded $500 scholarships to a Lord Botetourt and a James River High School graduate this spring.

Caleb Beckner received the scholarship at LBHS and Nathaniel Brinkley received the JRHS scholarship.

Beckner is valedictorian of the LBHS Class of 2017. He will attend Princeton University in the fall where he plans to major in mathematics with a concentration in engineering.

As a junior, he represented the American Legion at Boys State of Virginia. He’s done mission work in Atlanta, has competed in math competitions through Virginia Western Community College and is in the youth praise band at Rainbow Forest Baptist Church.

Brinkley will attend plans to study nursing at James Madison University or Jefferson College of Health Sciences. He is an Eagle Scout, served as president of the Botetourt 4-H Robotics Team, president of the Cyber Patriot Team for the Air Force Association, was co-president of the JRHS National Honor Society and competed on the school’s Scholastic Team.

Applicants for the scholarships were required to submit a 150-300 word essay describing how “Democracy Works in a Republic.”