The MaryEllen Locher Foundation has awarded 41 college scholarships for the upcoming academic year to Chattanooga and North Georgia students representing 21 high schools in the region.
The foundation is a college scholarship program for children who have either lost a parent to breast cancer or have a parent who is a breast cancer survivor. The awards are designed to ease the financial and emotional burdens faced by families dealing with the disease.
The organization was founded in 2002 by MaryEllen Locher, a well-known WTVC news anchor and health reporter. She started the foundation because she was concerned about the future of her own son. Ms. Locher died of breast cancer in 2005 after her third bout with cancer.
Over the past 15 years, the foundation has awarded over 420 scholarships totaling $702,000.
“MaryEllen trusted in God’s plans for her, but as a mother, she was concerned for her son Alex and his future,’’ said Jan Moses, a close friend and executive director of the foundation. “She wanted to help ease the burden of cancer for other families. Now, we carry on her vision for assisting families. MaryEllen’s heart is felt in every scholarship we are able to award.’’
The 2016 winners are:
Patrick Armor, Notre Dame High School graduate, attending the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Will Armor, Notre Dame High graduate, attending UTC
Lizzie Barber, Hixson High School graduate, attending Middle Tennessee State University
Emma Beach, Central High School graduate, attending the University of Tennessee at Knoxville
Jordan Bennett, Ooltewah High School graduate, attending Chattanooga State Community College: Rock City Scholarship
Savannah Bennett, Ooltewah High graduate, attending UTC: Rock City Scholarship
Bayley Bishop, Bradley County Virtual School graduate, attending Lee University
Kaylea Chitwood, Boyd-Buchanan School graduate, attending Chattanooga State: Hoops for Hope Scholarship
Copeland Cobb, Girls Preparatory School graduate, attending UTK
Allie Cody, Walker Valley High School graduate, attending Lee University: Volley for the Cure Scholarship
Jackson Cooper, Baylor School graduate, attending Sewanee: The University of the South
Bailey Crowder, Sale Creek High School graduate, attending Lincoln Memorial University
Darrah Dunagan, GPS graduate, attending UTC
Ashton Evans, Boyd-Buchanan School graduate, attending UTK
Sarah Kate Gartman, home school graduate, attending Milligan College
Hannah Hale, Heritage High School graduate, attending Jacksonville State University: Goodlet Farm Festival Scholarship
Hannah Holbrook, Soddy-Daisy High School graduate, attending UTC
Lauren Hood, GPS graduate, attending UTK
Jonas Kelly, Gilmer High School graduate, attending Kennesaw State University
Nathan Kelly, Gilmer High graduate, attending University of North Georgia
Bryce Killingsworth, Silverdale Baptist Academy graduate, attending UTC
Annelise King, Walker Valley High graduate, attending East Tennessee State University
Jake Marsden, McCallie School graduate, attending Samford University: Hoops for Hope Scholarship
Luke McDonald, Walker Valley High graduate, attending Belmont University
Trevor McDonald, McMinn County High School graduate, attending Maryville College
Hanna Million, Silverdale Baptist Academy graduate, attending Chattanooga State
Sara Million, Silverdale Baptist Academy graduate, attending Chattanooga State
Sarah Moore, Baylor School graduate, attending Berry College
Whitney Richardson, Soddy-Daisy High graduate, attending UTC
Jason Roth, Signal Mountain High School graduate, attending Virginia Tech
Lindsay Rufolo, GPS graduate, attending Davidson College
Jade Rutledge, Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences graduate, attending Austin Peay State University
Olivia Samples, Chattanooga Christian School graduate, attending Samford University
Courtney Sanders, Soddy-Daisy High graduate, attending UTC
Haley Shields, Silverdale Baptist Academy graduate, attending UTC
Katie Shields, Silverdale Baptist Academy graduate, attending UTC
Grace Signiski, Notre Dame High graduate, attending Georgia State University
Emily Simmons, Marion County High School graduate, attending Chattanooga State
Tayler Sutton, Walker Valley High graduate, attending Lee University
Will Sutton, Walker Valley High graduate, attending Lee University
Charlotte Whitfield, GPS graduate, attending Vanderbilt University: Hoops for Hope Scholarship
Funds for the foundation are raised through special events, individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and private grants. The foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and all contributions are tax-deductible.
In 2014, the organization launched “Mel’s Club,’’ a breast health awareness and education program for teen girls. Presentations are available for schools, churches, civic organizations and clubs.
For more information about the MaryEllen Locher Foundation or to schedule a “Mel’s Club’’ presentation, contact Cindy Pare, administrator, at 490-4555 or cindy@melfoundation.org. Visit the website at www.melfoundation.org or find more information on the foundation’s Facebook page.