Contributed by CFEA

The Community Foundation of East Alabama has distributed $27,000 in community scholarships to 11 area students from donor funds established through the foundation.

“The Community Foundation of East Alabama is thankful to our generous donors who make these scholarship awards possible,” said President of the Community Foundation of East Alabama, Barbara Patton. “Their investment in the education of our young people has impacted each student’s future. The process of choosing who will be awarded each of these scholarships is undertaken with dedication and discipline by a committee of volunteer leaders. We are grateful for their hard work and dedication in doing this. The process is never easy because our students are outstanding.”

Photos of the scholarship winners can be found on page B7.

Johnny Adrian Memorial Scholarship is an annual one-time scholarship established in 2018 by the friends and family of Johnny Adrian for a student at Auburn High School. Johnny Adrian passed away at age 43 after battling a brain tumor for nine years. Johnny Adrian had a successful career in insurance and loved sports — in particularly high school and recreational sports. The $2,000 scholarship was awarded to Seth Walker, a graduate of Auburn High School.

Kelleigh McConnell Meredith Memorial Scholarship is an annual one-time awarded scholarship established in the memory of Kelleigh Meredith, a native of Opelika and a teacher at AHS. The Kelleigh McConnel Meredith Memorial Scholarship is awarded to students in the communities of East Alabama, in particular, for graduates from Auburn, Beauregard, Smith Station or Opelika High School. The $500 scholarship was awarded to Ansli McDonald, a graduate of Beauregard High School.

National Village Ladies Club Scholarship is an annual one-time scholarship awarded to a female Opelika high school senior. The student must demonstrate academic excellence, leadership, school and community involvement and a desire for higher learning. The $3,000 scholarship was awarded to Leighanna Howell, a graduate of Opelika High School.

Peggy and Bill Lazenby Memorial Scholarship is an annual four-year scholarship established in the memory of Peggy and Bill Lazenby, natives of Opelika and both leaders in the community. The Peggy & Bill Lazenby Scholarship is awarded to Opelika High School students who are majoring in a STEM field, and exhibit leadership, sportsmanship and good citizenship. The $1,000 a year scholarship for four years, was awarded to Eleanor Wilson and Benet Harris. Both are graduates of Opelika High School.

Tom Woodward Memorial Visual Arts Scholarship is an annual one-time scholarship award to a student that is attending a technical school, art school or college and are studying any visual arts medium including drawing, painting, ceramics, intermedia and digital art as a part of their curriculum. As a result of a car accident his sophomore year at Auburn University, Tom became quadriplegic, but he was determined not to let that define him. A self-taught artist from an early age, Woodward became an accomplished artist, winning awards and competitions all over the Southeast. Never one to focus on his disability, Tom always emphasized his work and wanted his art to just be appreciated for art. The $1,000 scholarship was awarded to Alana Jordan, a graduate of Auburn High School.

Lee-Macon Workforce Scholarship is an annual one-time scholarship established by Katherine and Howard Porter. The Lee-Macon Workforce Scholarship is awarded to students at Booker T. Washington High School in Tuskegee, Alabama, who are seeking a degree in the technical field at either Southern Union State Community College or Central Alabama Community College. The $5,000 scholarship was awarded to Artrice Davis, a graduate of Booker T. Washington High School.

Wayne Murphy Memorial Scholarships are awarded to an Auburn High School female and male athlete each year and are based on each athlete’s character, academic record, sportsmanship and need. The Wayne Murphy Memorial Scholarship was established by the family and friends of Donald Wayne Murphy Sr., who was an Auburn High School track and football coach and became the athletic director at Auburn High School. Murphy touched many lives throughout his coaching career and was always able to motivate his athletes to run faster, run farther, jump higher and perform better. The $500 scholarships were awarded to Makyara Thurman and Trey Renolds, both graduates of Auburn High School.

Opelika Civitan Club Scholarship is an annual one-time scholarship established by the Opelika Civitan Club for an Opelika High School senior. The Opelika Civitan Club served the Opelika community from its inception in 1950 until 2020. They had innumerable service projects throughout their years and made a huge impact in the community for those in need. They built their own meeting house on the corner of West Point Parkway and Ridge Road. Apart from the club activities and events held there, many people have fond memories of other social functions that took place there. The $2,500 scholarship was awarded to Carmen Nunn, a graduate of Opelika High School.

Barber-Vallely Family Scholarship is an annual one-time scholarship established by Bob Barber and Cara Vallely Barber. Bob joined the U.S. Marine Corps after graduating from Opelika High School and retired in 2014 after serving more than 20 years. Cara taught in the Alabama public schools and is an advocate for military families across the nation. Graduates of Auburn University, they reside in St. Augustine, Florida, with their two children, Connor and Abby. The $1,000 scholarship was awarded to Leighanna Howell, a graduate of Opelika High School.

Nancy Parker Education Fund Scholarship is an annual one-time scholarship established by the family and friends of Nancy, an Opelika native and an award-winning journalist, who perished in a plane crash in New Orleans while doing a story. A graduate of the University of Alabama, a wife, mother of three children, Nancy was a five-time Emmy Award winner and eight-time Emmy nominee who spent almost 30 years covering news in Louisiana. Receiving numerous other awards like five Edward R. Murrow awards, she valued the role education played in her life, as do her mother and father, Patsy and Bill Parker. The $1,000 scholarship was awarded to Carmen Nunn, a graduate of Opelika High School.

John E. Melson and Margaret Linch Melson Scholarship is an annual one-time scholarship established by the family in memory of John and Margaret. John served the Army in WWII and after the war the couple made their home in Opelika. They were married for 70 years and had three daughters, Barbara, Sally and Lela. Continually active in the community and in their church, they enjoyed many friends and social activities. The $1,000 scholarship was awarded to Eleanor Wilson, a graduate of Opelika High School.

Tom Meadows Memorial Scholarship is an annual one-time scholarship awarded to a graduating senior of the Tallapoosa County School System seeking a major in either the forestry or agricultural field. The Tom Meadows Memorial Scholarship was established by the family and friends of Tom Meadows, who from an early age had a fondness and respect for the outdoors, animals and nature. For 37 years Meadows worked for the Forestry Department of Alabama Power and managed their timber lands throughout the state, where he knew every tree, shrub and blade of grass that was native to our state and enjoyed sharing his knowledge with others. The $1,000 scholarship was awarded to Alli Broom, a graduate of Auburn High School.

About the Community Foundation of East Alabama

The Community Foundation of East Alabama was incorporated in 2007 as a 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt organization. As a local center for philanthropy, the Community Foundation works with individuals, families, corporations, private foundations and nonprofit organizations to help them carry out their charitable objectives and address emerging community issues. Donors to the Community Foundation also benefit from the Foundation’s combined assets which greatly reduce investment and administrative fees. Our five-county region includes Lee, Chambers, Macon, Russell and Tallapoosa Counties.

Our Community Foundation is administered by a governing body of East Alabama citizens committed to building a vibrant community foundation. Through the generosity of people in East Alabama, our community foundation will continue to grow. Through grant making, we look forward to a brighter future by giving back to the place we call home. The Community Foundation is working to ensure that every child in East Alabama has an opportunity to further his/her education. For general inquires, you may contact President, Barbara Patton at info@cfeastalabama.org. Visit www.cfeastalabama.org for additional information.