USA, Baldwin County Students Awarded Scholarships

MOBILE, BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. — The University of South Alabama (USA) College of Medicine has announced the first recipients of the Samantha Alison Thomas Memorial Scholarship Endowment, named in honor of a member of the college’s Class of 2022 who was killed in a car crash almost two years ago at age 24. The Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce reported that graduating medical students Zachary Aggen, Paige Farley, Michelle Nguyen, Catherine Taylor and Melody Zeidan each received a $1,000 scholarship. Additionally, Dr. John V. Marymont, vice president for medical affairs and dean of the college, announced that the college would contribute $125,000 toward the scholarship endowment fund and that future donations to the family-run endowment would be matched dollar for dollar, for a total contribution of up to $250,000.

In Baldwin County, eight seniors received the Baldwin Proud Future Scholarship award, also $1,000 each, Gulf Coast Media reported. In addition, these students will be able to reapply for the scholarship each year for up to four years of their bachelor’s degree program. The scholarship is awarded to graduating seniors seeking a degree in education. This year’s recipients were Mary Kate Robertson, Elberta High School; Amberleigh Gibbs, Robertsdale High School; Kira Berona, Orange Beach High School; Elizabeth Kell, Daphne High School; Citlaly Mendez, Foley High School; Hannah Brooks, Baldwin County High School; Elizabeth “Betsy” Murphy, Fairhope High School; and Zachariah Hixon, Spanish Fort High School. The program has doubled its number of recipients and award amount since beginning last year. Remaining funds from its $50,000 pool are to be used to create more programs promoting training and retention within the education field.