CONTRIBUTED BY SUSCC
OPELIKA —
The Southern Union Foundation is pleased to award the inaugural Chris Mitchum Memorial Scholarship to Nathaniel Smitherman, a senior at Woodland High School.
Sponsored and funded by the Law Firm of Kesa M. Johnston, the scholarship was established to promote the education and advancement of a Randolph County or Roanoke City School student who will attend Southern Union State Community College pursuing a degree or certification in the performing or fine arts or areas that provide for use of metals, wood and other materials to create usable tools and art.
Johnston said she created the scholarship to honor the life and work of her dear friend, Chris Mitchum, by offering a financial award to visionary students wishing to better their communities through art, music architecture and revitalization. The annual scholarship, in the amount of $1,000, will be awarded each May.
Mitchum was a Roanoke, Alabama, artist, creator, musician, community servant, visionary and a lover of animals. He loved his family and friends unconditionally and everyone who knew him was bettered by his presence in their life. His desire to make the world a better place is evident in the many hours he gave to those he loved and the gifts he offered to Randolph County. A computer programmer by trade, Mitchum was also a remarkable and talented artist who dabbled in music, painting, stone sculpting, metals, glass and woodwork. He used a variety of materials and discarded items to create masterpieces of monumental proportion and beauty.
The Southern Union Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that was established to support and foster the educational and service programs and activities of SUSCC. The Foundation increases educational access for students through financial support and enables the college to initiate innovative projects to enhance the quality of education.