Ruritan Club Awards Scholarships to Local Students

Pictured: The Pungoteague Ruritan Club awarded $10,000 in scholarships to six students at its recent meeting. Recipients included front, holding envelopes, left to right – Gavin Ricci, Bennit Custis, Grayson Ross and Thomas Eno. Unable to attend were scholarship recipients Armonie Reid and Sarah Bentley. Others pictured, from left, are scholarship committee members Carol and Doug Wehner, Theodore Ricci, Kathy and Ryan Custis, committee member Paul Custis (non-voting member this year) P. G. and Jennifer Ross, committee member Bill Sterling and Michelle Eno. 

The Pungoteague Ruritan Club awarded $10,000 in scholarships to six Eastern Shore graduates at its July meeting held at Craddockville UMC.

The Custis-Quinn scholarship award is presented annually by the club to a local student in its service district, which extends from lower Accomack County to upper Northampton County. Selection is based on the potential to become a contributing member of society through the planned profession and through community service. In addition, financial need, character and academic promise are considered.

The six local students awarded scholarships in 2026 are high achievers, among the top in their class and leaders among their peers, while volunteering numerous hours in the community and excelling in athletics.

Gavin Ricci, the son of Theodore and Charlie Ricci of Willis Wharf, compiled a 4.5 grade point average and accumulated 65 college credits, finishing third in a class of 105 at Northampton High School. He was a member of the 2025 state championship soccer team and also played on tournament-winning teams in the Shore Football Club. Ricci volunteered with food drives and at an animal rehabilitation clinic. He plans to enter Virginia Tech and pursue a doctorate in veterinary medicine. He is now completing a project at Randy Custis Memorial Park that will complete his requirements for the rank of Eagle Scout.

Armonie Reid, the daughter of Erica Tankard of Exmore, finished seventh in a class of 105 at Northampton High School with a 4.4 GPA. Reid will attend Virginia Commonwealth University and plans to pursue a master’s degree in nursing. She is also interested in becoming a lab technician or crime scene investigator. Her teachers praise Reid for her communication skills, as she was managing editor of the yearbook and contributed to the school newspaper. She volunteers at church and for a number of charities, including Cancer Awareness.

Thomas Eno, the son of Randolph and Michelle Eno of Pungoteague, is a Broadwater Academy graduate who compiled a 4.32 GPA and scored 1350 on his SAT. He was president of the Interact Club and co-president of the STEM Club. He is a two-time VISAA state champion in the pole vault and enjoys coaching younger athletes in the event. He will attend Virginia Tech and major in engineering, with plans to become a mechanical engineer. He has competed in Envirothon and interned at the Experiment Station. He participated in the Rotary Leadership Program and has been a youth coach in the Street Hockey League. Living with type 1 diabetes, Eno is praised by his teachers for meeting every challenge with a positive attitude.

Grayson Ross, the son of P.G. and Jennifer Ross of Exmore, is a graduate of Broadwater Academy who has accumulated 70 college credits with a 4.12 GPA. He will attend Shenandoah University and major in biology, with plans to become a physician assistant either in emergency medicine or orthopedics. Ross is a certified EMT and has worked eight EMT shifts with the Cheriton, Exmore and Machipongo EMS. He was the senior class president and the captain during his junior and senior seasons of both his basketball and football teams. Ross has volunteered at his church, the Barrier Islands Center, the Foodbank and Habitat for Humanity. Ross, who has been diagnosed with SVT, a rapid heart rate, plans to eventually practice medicine on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

Sarah Bentley, the daughter of Chris and Kathryn Bentley of Painter, graduated fourth in her class at Nandua High School with a 4.35 GPA. She took dual enrollment classes at Eastern Shore Community College and graduated in May with an Associate of Science degree. She will attend the University of Virginia and major in kinesiology, with a long-term goal of becoming a physical therapist specializing in sports medicine. Bentley is active in her church and is a group leader for Vacation Bible School. Although she also competed in track and field and cross country, Sarah excelled in swimming, winning regional championships and being named to the Class 2 All-State team from her freshman to her senior season. She holds seven school swimming records. Teachers say she is respectful and intelligent, with a positive attitude that is welcoming to students and contributes to the classroom environment.

Bennit Custis, the son of Ryan and Kathy Custis of Painter, is a Broadwater Academy graduate who had a 3.39 GPA with 30 college credits. He plans to attend James Madison University and major in economics, with a desire to return to the Eastern Shore and start a business. Custis accumulated more than 60 hours of community service his senior year, stocking pantries with food, helping to provide clothing for underprivileged youth, and coaching youth for a travel baseball team. He was involved in the Model General Assembly. Teachers say one of his best attributes is uplifting others, with people turning to him when in need, and he always responds.