Amidst the rubble and re-building following the deadly tornado attacks, several hundred Alabama residents gathered at Southside Baptist Church in Birmingham to celebrate as The Smith Scholarship Foundation awarded 10 full scholarships, seven book scholarships and two trustee scholarships. Two Limestone County students were among recipients of the funds, which are awarded to students who overcome adversity.
The Foundation, established in 2005, is the largest private scholarship endowment in the State of Alabama. More than 80 full scholarships have been awarded with more than 50 current participants. Since its inception, the Smith Scholarship Foundation has provided more than $2.3 million in educational assistance to Alabama students.
Recent Elkmont High School graduate Marissa L. Baker received a full scholarship valued at about $15,000 per year to the University of Alabama. Marissa, who had been raised by foster parents since the death of the grandmother who was her guardian, left Elkmont a few days after graduation to take summer classes at UA, said Marissa’s foster mother Beverly Henley, a librarian at Elkmont school. Beverly and Jesse “Sonny” Henley, whose only son Lee was killed in a car wreck in 2005, have been Marissa’s parents for about 18 months and Beverly said Marissa will always have a home with them.
“We are so very proud of Marissa,” Beverly said. “She provides a wonderful example of how to overcome adversity through setting goals, working hard and perservering. We know Marissa will continue to justify everyone’s faith in her. We are extremely grateful to God and the Smith Foundation for this extraordinary opportunity.”
Marissa began a project called Baker’s Books for Babies, collecting picture and board books and distributing them to children at Athens-Limestone Hospital and the Athens-Limestone County Family Resource Center. A believer in the importance of early childhood literacy, Marissa worked with younger Elkmont students in the school’s library.Felicia Lambert, Athens-Limestone Hospital spokeswoman, said Marissa sets an example for students.
“She collected over 127 books from friends, family and a school philanthropic club called TRAIL,” Lambert said. “Marissa donated the books to ALH and the Family Resource Center in Athens to families of newborns and families with babies.”
Marissa also volunteers for Care Assurance System for the Aging and Homebound and works at Taco Bell to help pay for college.
Earlier this year, she received a $5,000-per-year First Scholars scholarship from the University of Alabama, which is awarded to the first person in a family to attend college.
Source: Athens News Courier
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