The recipients of the 2015-16 Lettie Pate Scholarship following the reception at Lee. Front row, from right, Elaine Martinez of Chatsworth, Ga.; Stephanie Edwards of Chatsworth, Ga.; Millie Swinson of Knoxville; Kelly Perez of Cleveland; Elizabeth Landry of Cleveland; Mackenzie Gossett of White House, Tenn.; Katie Cooper of Franklin, Tenn.; Heather Wood of Chattanooga and Lydia Trail of Liberty, Tenn. Second row, from right, Claudia Ayoub of Chattanooga; Danae Pick of Port Saint Lucie, Fla.; Karina Hernandez of Dalton; Alisha Dover of Georgetown, Tenn.; Kayla Hughett of Huntsville, Tenn.; Tiffany Alley of Radford, Va.; Anna Ferenchuck of Cleveland; Kendra Norwood of Kennesaw, Ga.; and Hannah Burkowske of Ocala, Fla. Third row, from right, Joshalyn Brown of Cleveland; Caroline Hamby of Tampa, Fla.; Reagan Millholland of Cumming, Ga.; Blakeli Hudson of Crandall, Ga.; Jonysia Kilgore of Athens, Ga.; Hailey Rudd of Knoxville and Sara Nicole Lee of Hixson. Top row, from right, Kelsey French of Cleveland; Hannah McManus of Winston, Ga.; Lauren Hart of Lewisville, N.C.; Jennifer Jones of Pell City, Ala. and Mercedes Blomstrom of Sweetwater, Tenn.; Not Pictured are Ashley Ayala of Dallas, N.C.; Kate Patterson of Temple, Ga.; DeAnne Sipes of Bradenton, Fla. and Cammie Wilson of Bradenton, Fla.
Lee University has awarded scholarships to 34 women for the 2015-2016 school year. The Lettie Pate Whitehead foundation, a Georgia nonprofit organization that is dedicated to the education of female students with financial need from nine southeastern states, funded the scholarships.
Each woman was awarded a scholarship of $2,500. In accordance with the guidelines prescribed by the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation, scholarships were awarded to women who reside in one of nine specified southeastern states. Recipients were chosen based on a combination of factors including financial need, academic merit and character.
Mrs. Lettie Pate Whitehead, for whom the foundation is named, was born in Virginia in 1872. In 1895 she married Joseph Brown Whitehead and the two settled in Chattanooga. In 1899, Mr. Whitehead and an associate approached the Coca-Cola Company with the idea of bottling the popular beverage. The two businessmen secured a contract and soon began bottling and selling Coca-Cola throughout the United States.
Upon Mr. Whitehead’s death in 1906, Mrs. Whitehead assumed responsibility for the family’s business affairs. She became one of the first women to serve on the board of directors of a major American corporation.
Along with her legacy as a successful business woman, Mrs. Whitehead was also known for her generosity. Throughout her life she supported charities and educational programs and was viewed as a leader in her community. The Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation aims to inspire women to stand out as leaders in their communities and to support them in their quest for education. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the scholarship program at Lee.
A reception to celebrate the 34 women chosen for the award this year was held on Wednesday in the John D. Nichols Room of the Lee University Chapel.
For more information about the Lettie Pate Whitehead Scholarship, please contact Lee’s Office of Admissions at 614-8500.
PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured here are the recipients of the 2015-16 Lettie Pate Scholarship following the reception at Lee. Front Row (right to left): Elaine Martinez of Chatsworth, Georgia; Stephanie Edwards of Chatsworth, Georgia; Millie Swinson of Knoxville, Tennessee; Kelly Perez of Cleveland Tennessee; Elizabeth Landry of Cleveland, Tennessee; Mackenzie Gossett of White House, Tennessee; Katie Cooper of Franklin, Tennessee; Heather Wood of Chattanooga, Tennessee; and Lydia Trail of Liberty, Tennessee. Second Row (right to left): Claudia Ayoub of Chattanooga, Tennessee; Danae Pick of Port Saint Lucie, Florida; Karina Hernandez of Dalton, Georgia; Alisha Dover of Georgetown, Tennessee; Kayla Hughett of Huntsville, Tennessee; Tiffany Alley of Radford, Virginia; Anna Ferenchuck of Cleveland, Tennessee; Kendra Norwood of Kennesaw, Georgia; and Hannah Burkowske of Ocala, Florida. Third Row (right to left): Joshalyn Brown of Cleveland, Tennessee; Caroline Hamby of Tampa, Florida; Reagan Millholland of Cumming, Georgia; Blakeli Hudson of Crandall, Georgia; Jonysia Kilgore of Athens, Georgia; Hailey Rudd of Knoxville, Tennessee; and Sara Nicole Lee of Hixson, Tennessee. Top Row (right to left): Kelsey French of Cleveland, Tennessee; Hannah McManus of Winston, Georgia; Lauren Hart of Lewisville, North Carolina; Jennifer Jones of Pell City, Alabama; and Mercedes Blomstrom of Sweetwater, Tennessee; Not Pictured are Ashley Ayala of Dallas, North Carolina; Kate Patterson of Temple, Georgia; DeAnne Sipes of Bradenton, Florida; and Cammie Wilson of Bradenton, Florida.