Gaskins Taps Simmons College of Kentucky To Receive $1,000 Scholarship
LOS ANGELES, August 12, 2015 – The National Notary Association (NNA) has named LaQuita Gaskins from Radcliff, Kentucky the 2015 Notary of the Year. Now in its 25th year, the NNA’s Notary of the Year designation is the highest honor an American Notary Public can earn. The award program recognizes Notaries like Gaskins whose actions and accomplishments go above and beyond their basic commissioned duty.
To accompany this honor, the NNA’s philanthropic arm – the National Notary Foundation – will endow a $1,000 scholarship on her behalf to Simmons College of Kentucky. Gaskins personally selected this educational institution and the check will be presented on campus to Executive Vice President, Dr. Frank Smith, Jr., at 11 a.m. on August 26.
“Ms. Gaskins was an early front-runner among the nominees for the 2015 Notary of the Year award. She spent more than two decades serving our great country in the Army and we are proud to recognize her and to support a college that continues to enrich her life,” said Tom Heymann, President and CEO of the National Notary Association.
Gaskins earned her Notary commission nearly 30 years ago. During her 21 years of service in the U.S. Army, she became the go-to Notary on the base and learned the Notary laws in more than 40 states. In 2006, she founded the Shiloh City of Peace Foundation — a non-profit dedicated to improving family and community aid – and donated seven of her own homes to use as shelters.
Currently, Gaskins and her husband – who also happens to be a Notary – run a small business together. An ardent believer in education, she has a double master’s degree in mental health counseling and education and is currently working on a double doctorate degree.
A video of the Notary of the Year award ceremony and acceptance speech is available here.
About the National Notary Association
Established in 1957, the National Notary Association (NNA) is the leading professional authority on the American Notary office and is dedicated to educating, serving and advocating for the nation’s 4.4 million Notaries. It published the Model Notary Act to help lawmakers enact effective legislation and created The Notary Public Code of Professional Responsibility — a standard for best practices and professional conduct. To learn more, visit NationalNotary.org.
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