Rev. Watson Haynes II is the namesake of the scholarship program. A civil rights activist, he served as the president and CEO of the Urban League<\/a> from 2012 until his death in 2022. A St. Petersburg native, he grew up in the former Gas Plant district (now the site of Tropicana Field) and graduated from St. Petersburg High School.\u00a0<\/p>\n Rev. Watson Haynes II. Photo provided.<\/p>\n Haynes was an associate pastor at New Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. He was also appointed to the Florida Commission on Human Rights by governors Charlie Crist and Rick Scott.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI am just touched,\u201d Rev. Haynes\u2019 widow Valerie Pendarvis-Haynes told the Catalyst. \u201cMy heart is heavy. To see so many people come out and support his efforts to give back to the community, it means a lot.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n She explained that the initiative was created based on pillars that were important to Rev. Haynes. He was a \u201cbig proponent\u201d of education, ministry, youth programs and drug treatment initiatives. \u201cWe just tried to recognize people who are doing the kinds of things he did during his lifetime.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The Haynes Heroes Scholarship was given to six students this year: Chase Temple (St. Petersburg Collegiate High School), Damarion Feaster (Shorecrest Preparatory School), Braelyn Brinson (Boca Ciega High School), Amarah Cabassa (Boca Ciega High School), India Graham (Boca Ciega High School) and Jayda Parkes-Quarrie (St. Petersburg Collegiate High School).\u00a0<\/p>\n The average weighted GPA for the recipients was a 4.05. Additionally, the young people completed an average of 943 community service hours.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThis scholarship means a lot to me because it recognizes my hard work throughout high school and my community service,\u201d Temple explained. \u201cIt also means a lot that they are choosing to invest in me to support my academic journey as an adult as I transition to my life in college.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n He plans to study mechanical engineering at Tuskegee University in Alabama and hopes to design prosthetics for people in need. The goal, Temple said, is to make the technology more affordable, accessible and advanced.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n The scholarship program, now in its third year, has supported 23 students since its launch. More than $30,000 has been awarded.<\/p>\n From left, Haynes Heroes Scholarship Committee chairman emeritus Valerie Pendarvis-Haynes, Haynes Unsung Heroes recipients Frank Peterman (representing Gershom Faulkner), Rev. Ellis Hodge, Samantha Richardson-Hardy and Carla Bristol and Pinellas County Urban League president and CEO Nikki Gaskin-Capehart at the Saturday brunch.<\/p>\n Carla Bristol, Gershom Faulkner, Rev. Ellis Hodge and Samantha Richardson-Hardy were the individuals recognized as Haynes Unsung Heroes.\u00a0<\/p>\n Bristol is the director of the St. Pete Youth Farm<\/a>, a nonprofit that focuses on urban agriculture, access to nutritious food and youth development. An arts activist, she has also launched her own podcast, \u201cConnect with Carla B.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Watson-Haynes-Profile-1.jpg\")
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