Earl Wyman Performance Achievement Award Winners Announced

What started out as a simple, one-time donation, turned into an ongoing scholarship fund for youth of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The Earl Wyman Performance Achievement Award is given each year to one deserving male and female student between the ages of fifteen and eighteen years of age. The $500 award, given through the Mississippi Gulf Coast Y.M.C.A., can be used in any way the winner chooses.

Mr. Earl Wyman owned a piece of property in Ocean Springs and contacted then C.E.O. David Harris about donating it to the Y.M.C.A. “We started talking and got to know each other. I told him about the Y and some of the things we were trying to do here for the young people of the Coast” said Harris. “He liked what he heard.” Although the two never got to meet in person, they maintained a relationship through phone calls and correspondence which lasted many years.

Years later, Wyman had an idea for another way he could help the Y.M.C.A. and area youth. He drew up the plan and qualifications for The Earl Wyman Performance Achievement Award – the same criteria that are still used today. The winner must be between 15 and 18 years of age, a full-time student, and must be involved in a program or organization that benefits the community. Each applicant for the award must also complete a questionnaire covering topics such as academic achievements, moral achievements, community service, and life goals. Mr. Wyman ultimately set up an endowment for the scholarship program, which has enabled his vision of helping youth to continue, even after his death.

This year’s winners featured two seniors from Ocean Springs High School. Parker Darphin, son of Earl and Linda Darphin, will graduate from the prestigious International Baccalaureate program at Ocean Springs, is an All-District runner for the Greyhound Cross Country Program, and recently scored a 30 on his ACT.

Sarah Brouckaert, daughter of Brian Broukaert and Tamela Gartman, is ranked 20th in her graduating class of 415 students, is a member of the Ocean Springs Mayor’s Youth Council, and also scored a 30 on the ACT.