Dawn Whatley is thankful for her son's great-grandmother Margaret Padgett.

If not for her, Mrs. Whatley's son Joshua might not have been entered into the Make Kids Count contest, where he is now a finalist for the $10,000 scholarship bond.

Joshua, of Edgefield, S.C., and fellow finalist Antonio Carter, of Hephzibah, have won at least a $5,000 scholarship bond.

"We're excited to have this money for his college education," she said. "His great-grandmother encouraged us to enter him. It wasn't something we had thought about, but we're glad she did. We have a lot to thank her for."

Antonio's parents were also excited.

"We feel very blessed," said his mother, Rosemary Carter. "With the cost of education and how it's rising, the scholarship will be a huge help. Education is very important, and we've always stressed that with our children. I'm glad to see that others in the community think that, too."

Joshua, 15, and Antonio, 17, advanced in the contest's 13- to 18-year-old category during the drawing held June 11 at Partners in Achievement.

Dinesia Hickson, of Augusta, and Alex Roker, of North Augusta, were eliminated in the drawing. However, they each won a $1,000 scholarship bond.

Over the past five years, The Augusta Chronicle and sponsors have distributed more than $395,800 in scholarship bonds to area children. The sponsors for the contest are Platt's Funeral Home and Partners in Achievement.

Reach Nikasha Dicks at (706) 823-3336 or nikasha.dicks@augustachronicle.com.