Mullings – TCCHS Alumni Association Awards Almost $27,000 in Scholarships to TCCHS Seniors
A surety of life is that a gift of money is a blessing we all enjoy, and another surety of life is that a gift of money or recognition to honor our achievements is just as much a blessing. This year’s TCCHS Class of 2022 received $26,850 in scholarship monies on Friday evening, May 20, at the annual TCCHS Awards Program held in the TCCHS auditorium. That figure, which included 20 students receiving 27 different scholarships, reflects the love Todd Countians and those with Todd County and/or TCCHS roots have for the next generation of TCCHS graduates. That $26,850 figure also reflects an increase of $6600 from the scholarships provided in 2021. Since its formation in 2013 and its first awarding scholarships to the TCCHS Class of 2014, the TCCHS Alumni Association has awarded in a nine-year period $132,350 in scholarships to TCCHS graduates. Mr. Lee Quarles, principal of TCCHS who worked previously in the Clarksville – Montgomery County School System, remarked recently he was amazed at the total amount of monies the association has provided to TC grads. Anna Jo Parmley, a director of the association and a 1966 graduate of TCCHS, commented, “It is so rewarding the alumni association has the support of so many individuals and groups who want to ‘give back’ to their alma mater and their community.”
In announcing the scholarships at the Awards Program, Ms. Parmley explained this year’s scholarships reflected two businesses who willingly embraced the association and its efforts to assist the seniors of TCCHS. One of those business owners, Terry Greene of “That Guy Who Fixes Stuff,” expressed his desires to assist a student entering into a vocational area. Logically, one who works in a skilled technical area realizes the needs for the next generation to learn the skills required to add to the work force. The other new sponsor this year is Novelis – Guthrie. When Tom Lilienthal, plant manager of Novelis – Guthrie, was contacted and asked if Novelis would be interested in sponsoring scholarships, he replied almost immediately, asking if five $1000 scholarships would be sufficient. That response again reflects the generosity that abounds in Todd County. Another TCCHS graduate, one who wants to remain anonymous, also embraced the opportunity to assist with the maintaining of the Andrew “Cheston” Miller Memorial Scholarship, one started last year and co-sponsored again this year by Clifton Martin of Clarksville. Both were friends of Cheston who wanted to ‘keep his memory alive’ with the scholarship honoring their deceased friend who died unexpectedly on January 8, 2021 in a pedestrian accident in Nashville. Another sponsor, Bruce and Linda Marklin of Marklin Insurance, also increased their $500 scholarship to $1000 this year, another example of generosity so abundant in our community.
Other sponsors this year include ones who in previous years have also reached out to the association offering to sponsor scholarships to ‘ease’ the financial burden graduates and their families experience as graduates bridge their lives to the next chapter. Charlotte Morrow, another director of the association and a retired educator as well, commented, “We have been so blessed to have so many willing to write checks and support our TCCHS graduates yearly.” Adding she understands times are difficult for many, she also expressed her gratitude to those who faithfully provide the monies needed to maintain the scholarships each year. Ms. Parmley, who worked for many years as a social worker and with the Todd County School System in several roles, also emphasized the need for those receiving scholarships to send ‘thank you’ notes to those sponsors who so willingly donate the scholarship monies. In her remarks, she also explained the TCCHS Class of 1981 had monies remaining from their recent 2021 40th Class Reunion, and with their extra monies they contacted the association to provide additional revenue for the association’s scholarship efforts. That money, almost $350, was added to one of the two $750 TCCHS Alumni Association Scholarships with this one geared for a technical area.
Scholarship Recipients and Sponsors
Alton and Bessie Greenfield Memorial Academic Scholarship
Recipient – Katelyn Shaw Anderson
Scholarship Amount – $500
Sponsor – Mrs. Ruth Elliot of Hopkinsville
Howard Ray Stokes Memorial Academic Scholarship
Recipient – Taylor Byrd
Scholarship Amount – $500
Sponsors – The Late Dolly Stokes Rawlins and Mrs. Linda Stokes Fritz
Gary Strader Memorial Agriculture Scholarship
Recipient – Meredith Drummond
Scholarship Amount – $500
Sponsors – Mr. and Mrs. Bob Carver
Jeffery Wayne Farmer Memorial Scholarship
Recipient – Graceyn O. Morris
Scholarship Amount – $500
Sponsor – Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Farmer
TCCHS Alumni Association Academic and Technical Scholarships
Recipients – Atalie Makenna Lester and Gracie Rose Cherryholmes and
Scholarship Amounts – $1100 and $750 Respectively
Sponsors – TCCHS Alumni Association and TCCHS Class of 1981
TCCHS Alumni Association Business or Accounting Scholarship
Recipient – William Nathaniel Kearns
Scholarship Amount – $1000
Sponsor – Anonymous
Carolyn L. Wells Academic and Leadership Scholarships
Recipients – Jacob Gillespie, Joshua Gillespie, and Ava Elizabeth Hurt
Scholarship Amount – $1000 Each
Sponsor – Carolyn L. Wells
Carolyn Wells Writing Scholarship
Recipient – Taylor Byrd
Scholarship Amount – $500
Sponsors – Mrs. Lana Kim White Austin and Carolyn L. Wells
TCCHS Alumni Association Memorial Academic or Technical Scholarship
Recipient – Scottie Craig Berry
Scholarship Amount – $2000
Sponsor – Anonymous
Tom and Rowena Everett Memorial Academic Scholarships
Recipients – Katelyn Shaw Anderson and Taylor Byrd
Scholarship Amount – $2000 Each
Sponsors – The Late Tom and Rowena Everett
Sharon Patterson Shemwell Memorial Scholarship
Recipient – Jacob Gillespie
Scholarship Amount – $500
Sponsor – Mrs. Darlene Groves of “Something Special”
Bruce and Linda Marklin Scholarship
Recipient – Bailey Nichole Sweeney
Scholarship Amount – $1000
Sponsors – Bruce and Linda Marklin
Randall and Nancy Powell Healthcare Scholarships
Recipients – Samantha Anabeth Case, Adlea Paige Hamlet, and Emma Therese Petrie
Scholarship Amounts – $1000 Each
Sponsors – Mr. and Mrs. Randall Powell
Todd County Chamber of Commerce Academic or Technical Scholarship
Recipient – Austin Lee Wheeler
Scholarship Amount – $1000
Sponsor – Todd County Chamber of Commerce
“That Guy Who Fixes Stuff” Scholarship
Recipient – Jackson Howard Jones
Scholarship Amount – $1000
Sponsor – Terry Greene of “That Guy Who Fixes Stuff”
Andrew “Cheston” Miller Memorial Scholarship
Recipient – Abby Danielle Myers
Scholarship Amount – $1000
Sponsors – Anonymous and Clifton Martin
Novelis – Guthrie Academic or Technical Scholarships
Recipients – Joshua Gillespie, Faith Lynne Griffin, Jackson Howard Jones, Abby Danielle Myers, and Chase Wells
Scholarship Amount – $1000 Each
Sponsor – Novelis – Guthrie
The TCCHS Alumni Association encourages anyone with interest in supporting the graduates of TCCHS to reach out to any officer or director – Jeremy Long (president), Linda Fritz (vice-president), Joyce Darby (treasurer), Carolyn Wells (secretary), Anna Jo Parmley, Charlotte Morrow, or Sue Neeble (directors-at-large) to discuss the establishment of a scholarship. Carolyn Wells also reminds everyone, either alumni of TCCHS or folks with an interest in assisting the next generation of TC grads, that yearly membership dues of $10 or lifetime memberships of $200 can assist the organization with its accumulation of $1500 to sponsor the two scholarships the association provides yearly. Hopefully, when COVID subsides more, the association can resume its monthly meetings the third Tuesday of each month in the TCCHS library.
~ Article by Carolyn L. Wells
June 7, 2022