Cleveland State Community College Nursing student Alyssa Fox poses for a picture with her daughter, Marilyn Hartman. Ms. Fox is a 2020 and 2021 winner of the Sam H. Odom Scholarship given to qualifying nursing students attending a Tennessee Board of Regents institution.
Alyssa Fox, a nursing student and a member of the Honors College at Cleveland State Community College, was awarded the Sam H. Odom Scholarship from the Sam H. Odom Foundation Trust and Tennessee Board of Regents for the Spring 2021 semester. The Bradley County resident will receive $1,000 for the Spring 2021 semester. Ms. Fox plans to graduate with her associate of applied science in nursing, also known as a registered nursing degree, in the spring of 2022.
“I was actually the recipient of this scholarship in the fall of 2020,” stated Ms.
Fox. “Mrs. (Nancy) Thomas (director of nursing) encouraged me to apply. I love being able to be in a nursing college with people who are truly compassionate and want to see you succeed…it feels amazing to have the privilege to receive a scholarship that will help me pursue my dreams of becoming a certified RN.”
Ms. Fox continued, “I am going to use this scholarship to help further my career in nursing with helpful tools and supplies I may need. This scholarship will help me tremendously.”
A young mother herself, Ms. Fox hopes to one day become a nurse in a mother/baby unit because of her love for babies.
“I would love to work at Erlanger East,” stated Ms. Fox. “I had such a wonderful experience there after giving birth to my son, and I would love to give moms that same experience.”
The Sam H. Odom scholarship was established in 2015 to provide scholarship funds to students who are enrolled in a Tennessee community college, pursuing an associate of applied science in nursing degree. One student per college may earn the honor each academic year to help them finish their education and make their way into the nursing workforce.
“I'm incredibly proud of Alyssa for doing all of the hard work required to be recognized in this way,” stated Dr. Victoria Bryan, dean of the Honors College. “She is a testament to the strength and resilience of the Cleveland State student body.”