Staff Reports
Several students at Three Rivers College recently awarded scholarships from the Three Rivers Endowment Trust.
Jessica McMillan of Bloomfield has been awarded the Velma Foster Memorial Nursing Scholarship.
The scholarship, which provides financial assistance for the five semesters McMillan expects to attend Three Rivers College to complete her nursing degree, was set up by Tammy Stocks and Stacy Wood, the daughters of Velma Foster, who died in December 2017.
"My family and I are very grateful for this award," McMillan said. "With five kids, coming to college was a big sacrifice and presented a financial strain. This scholarship helps alleviate some of that burden."
McMillan is a 2000 graduate of Puxico High School. She is married to Toby McMillan.
Foster was a nontraditional student who graduated with her associate degree from Three Rivers in 1981 - the same year one daughter graduated college and the other high school. Foster went on to receive her BSN and MSN degrees from Southeast Missouri State University. She worked in a variety of roles until she was hired at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, where she worked for more than 20 years in outpatient mental health before she retired.
Five nursing students have been awarded funds from the Dede Lawson Memorial Scholarship.
The recipients, who are all TRC nursing students, are:
Amanda Cordell of Neelyville. Cordell is a 1995 graduate of Neelyville High School. She is the daughter of Ronald Conley and Dora Conley Turner of Neelyville.
Alexandra Gilmore of Neelyville. Gilmore is a 2017 graduate of Neelyville High School. She is the daughter of Sheri Gilmore of Neelyville.
James Robert Osborn of Poplar Bluff. Osborn is a 2017 graduate of Poplar Bluff High School. He is married to Chloe Osborn.
Katie Redwine of Poplar Bluff. Redwine is a 2017 graduate of Poplar Bluff High School. She is the daughter of Roger and Dana Redwine of Poplar Bluff.
Chante Tidwell of Ellsinore. Tidwell is a 2009 graduate of Continental Academy in Mirimar, Fla. She is married to Gus Tidwell. She is the daughter of Keith and Elizabeth Dean of Poplar Bluff.
This scholarship was established in the memory of Dede Lawson, a 1979 graduate of Three Rivers College. She spent her life working in the nursing field until she died at the age of 49 after being diagnosed with cancer.
Amy Ramback of Fisk has been awarded the Mildred Norton Lewis Memorial Scholarship at Three Rivers College. Ramback, a 1993 graduate of Twin Rivers High School, is pursuing a degree in criminal justice at Three Rivers.
Norton Lewis was an outstanding citizen of the community and a past governor of District Eight, Altrusa International, Inc.
These scholarships represents some of the more than $60,000 awarded to students this fall by the Three Rivers Endowment Trust, a 501(c)(3) organization that receives and manages donations on behalf of Three Rivers College. The Endowment Trust provides a mutually beneficial means for individuals and businesses to partner with the College.
For information on donating to scholarships, building projects, or other College needs, contact the Three Rivers Development Office at 573-840-9077.