Marengo UWA Alumni award 7 scholarships
LIVINGSTON, Ala.— The University of West Alabama’s Marengo County Alumni Chapter awarded seven scholarships totaling nearly $15,000 for the 2019-2020 academic year.
Lakisha R. Lucy received the Marengo County Alumni Scholarship. She is an incoming freshman from Magnolia and a graduate of Sweet Water High School. To be eligible for a Marengo County Alumni scholarship, a student must maintain a 3.0 or higher GPA.
Pictured at last year’s scholarship presentation are Vice President for Institutional Advancement Chris Thomason, scholarship recipients Christopher Dunn of Sweet Water and Jessica Hosea of Thomaston, UWA President Ken Tucker, and Marengo County Alumni Chapter President Steve Henderson.
The Chapter also awarded India Lowry Shields Scholarships, this year providing $2,300 each to six students. They are Christopher Dunn and Morgan McManus of Sweet Water; Laura Griffith and Jessica Hosea of Thomaston; Alex Owens of Linden, and Patrick Smith of Demopolis.
Shields graduated from Livingston in the late 1870s and sent all six of her daughters to Livingston to earn teaching certificates. All seven women taught in the public schools of Marengo County.
The Shields scholarship was established as a memorial by Shields’ daughter, Lucille Shields Andrews.
Marengo County boasts one of UWA’s highest alumni populations within the state, including many of the county’s leaders in education, healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, business and industry.
Last fall, the Marengo chapter launched a membership drive to build support for the chapter and its scholarship opportunities for deserving Marengo County students. Alumni and friends can join the chapter for $25 annually, and proceeds directly support scholarships.
“This chapter is open to alumni of the University and also to friends who want to show support for the students in our county who want to go to school in Livingston,” said Marengo Chapter President Steve Henderson.
“We have a core of support and want to grow that in a way that helps provide more opportunities to our students in the county. We want our membership to represent every decade, maybe even every class year. Whether we call ourselves UWA Tigers, Livingston University Tigers or Livingston State College Tigers, we are all Tigers, and we want to share traditions with the next generation.”
Henderson serves on the chapter’s scholarship committee, along with Lucinda Mason and Deitsi Lewis. He said that the group sees a growing need for scholarship support for students who have proven their commitment to success and service.
“It’s important to our county on a level that reaches far beyond the fellowship and camaraderie that we enjoy,” Henderson said. “In thinking long-term, we have the opportunity to help provide an outstanding education for students who are already invested in our local communities and want to keep Marengo County strong. We need to all help however we can to provide a way for the young people here who want to go to college and have great potential to help guide our county’s future.”
Scholarship applications are posted on the alumni web site on Nov. 1 of each year and are due by April 15. Scholarships are announced in the spring.
Students receiving Marengo County Alumni scholarships are recognized each year at the chapter’s fall meeting, as will the 2019-2020 recipients.
For more information on UWA Alumni events, initiatives and opportunities, contact the UWA Alumni Office at 205-652-3867 or alumni@uwa.edu or visit www.uwa.edu/alumni.