Scholarship Recipients

Eight area residents were presented scholarships by the Auxiliary during the annual Volunteer Week Luncheon. They are, from left: Riley Tucker, of Demopolis, Katie Brooker, of Gallion, Heather Pope, of Demopolis, Dexter Laye, of Eutaw, Katie McKinney, of Livingston, Lindsay Osborne, of Linden, and Jessica Pearson, of Demopolis. Ashley Green, of Demopolis, not shown, also received a scholarship.

 The Bryan Whitfield Memorial Hospital Auxiliary recognized eight area students on April 20 by presenting them each a $1,500 scholarship to aid them in pursuing healthcare careers.

The Auxiliary initiated the scholarship program in 2005 with the establishment of the Emmett and Carolyn Clinkscales Scholarship and the Carolyn S. (Betty) McCormick Scholarship.  While both of the scholarships are available to residents of Marengo, Sumter, Hale, Choctaw, Perry, Greene and Clarke counties, the McCormick scholarship is granted only to children and/or grandchildren of employees of the Tombigbee Healthcare Authority. The group has awarded six scholarships for the past several years. This year, thanks to a generous donation from an anonymous donor, they were able to increase the number awarded to eight.

Receiving McCormick Scholarships this year were Katie Brooker, Ashley Green, Lindsay Osborne, Jessica Pearson and Heather Pope. Clinkscales Scholarships were presented to Dexter Laye, Katie McKinney and Riley Tucker.

Brooker is currently studying to be an occupational therapist at the University of Alabama. This is the second year she has received the award. She is a member of Future Alumni for Tradition and Excellence (FATE) and the Crimson Nation. She also serves as a cantor at St. Leo the Great Catholic Church in Demopolis. A Demopolis High School graduate, she is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Doug Brooker of Gallion.

 A student in Samford University’s McWorter School of Pharmacy, three-time recipient, Green is a member of the Rho Chi Academic Honor Society, the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists, the Alabama Society of Health-System Pharmacists, the Christian Pharmacy Fellowship and Gamma Beta Phi National Honor Society. A graduate of Demopolis High School, she is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. John Green of Demopolis.

Osborne, a freshman at the University of West Alabama, plans to become a registered nurse. This is the second year she has received the award. A member of Phi Mu Sorority, she is also the Student Government Association representative for the sorority and a Diamond Darling for the UWA baseball team. The Marengo Academy graduate is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Osborne, of Linden.

Pearson, a student at the University of West Alabama, is studying to become a registered nurse. The Demopolis High School graduate is married to James Pearson, of Demopolis, and is the daughter of Theresa Fulgham, of Forkland, and Travis Fulgham, of Cedar Bluff, MS.

Pope, a senior at Demopolis High School, will use the scholarship to study nursing at the University of Alabama in the fall. An honors student at DHS, Pope is a member of the Beta Club and the Science National Honor Society. She is an active volunteer, having served on a mission trip to Gatlinburg, TN, and particiated for two years in the Renew Our Rivers program. She has also assisted in the upkeep of Missy's Garden at Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Pope, of Demopolis.

Greene County High School senior, Dexter Laye plans to become a family physician and will use his scholarship to study at the University of Alabama in the fall. An honor student at GCHS, he is a member of the National Junior Honor Society and has received the Accelerated Reader Award, Citizenship Award, and Good Behavior Student award. He is the son of Michelle Laye, of Eutaw.

McKinney, a student at the University of West Alabama, is studying to become a registered nurse. She is the daughter of Gary McKinney, of Livingston, and Ann Briggs, of Demopolis.

Tucker, a student at the University of West Alabama, will use her scholarship to continue her studies toward a nursing degree. She is a graduate of Demopolis High School and is the daughter of Eddie Tucker, of Demopolis, and Sheila Tucker, of Gallion.