342 10 WHO HAVE OVERCOME OBSTACLES WILL EARN NEILL-SANDLER SCHOLARSHIPS

Release date: April 5, 2007 Editorial contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-2919
Scholars at MTSU contact: Kippy Todd, 898-5756



10 WHO HAVE OVERCOME OBSTACLES WILL EARN NEILL-SANDLER SCHOLARSHIPS TO ATTEND MTSU APRIL 10


(MURFREESBORO) — Ten Middle Tennessee high-school seniors who have overcome obstacles and become successful in life will be honored for their tenacity Tuesday, April 10, during the ninth annual Neill-Sandler Strive for Excellence Banquet at MTSU. The invitation-only event will start at 6 p.m. in the Tennessee Miller Coliseum’s Miller Room.
The students, who have been nominated by their schools and school systems, have persevered through rough times. Despite their situations, they have performed well in the classroom and on their college entrance examinations, and exhibited leadership skills in and out of school. Some have worked to financially assist themselves and family members.
Scholarships provided through the Neill-Sandler Foundation and The Danner Company, a Nashville-based business led by Chairman Ray Danner, will go to the deserving students who come from the following county school systems: Bedford, Cannon, Coffee, DeKalb, Franklin, Rutherford, Warren, Williamson and Wilson, and Tullahoma City Schools.
This year’s honorees will include:
Jessica Berry of DeKalb County High School in Smithville; Kyle Chompooming of Franklin County High School in Winchester; India Clark of Lebanon High School; Crystal Clayton of Warren County High School in McMinnville; Chris Ehemann of Tullahoma High School; Lauren Grooms of Smyrna High School; Chad Howse of Cannon County High School in Woodbury; Melissa McClenney of Shelbyville Central High School; Brittany Nelson of Independence High School in Franklin; and Tosha Stoutenburg of Coffee County Central High School in Manchester.
One scholarship recipient will receive the Ray Danner Scholarship, which has a $10,000 total award. Another will receive the Elizabeth and Sidney McPhee Scholarship, with a $7,500 total award. The other eight winners will receive a $5,000 scholarship.
Kippy Todd, assistant director for annual giving and donor relations in the Office of Development, said 85 recipients have benefited from the scholarships since 1999.
Todd said the efforts of businessmen Gary Neill of Knoxville, Mike Sandler of Murfreesboro, Nashville businessman Danner and others has helped maintain the program. Neill, Sandler and Randy Morton of the Neill-Sandler Foundation initiated the program in 1999.
For more information about the program, visit mtsu.edu/~devofc/neill-sandler. For information about other scholarships or admission to MTSU, call 615-898-2111 or visit mtsu.edu/~admissn/.
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Media welcomed.
Note: high-resolution .jpg photos are available. To request a photo, call 615-898-2919.