Mary Darby McLauren, Linda Faye Coleman and Dawn Dysard have been selected to receive the Elizabeth Welsh Riley Memorial Nursing Scholarships at Meridian Community College.

These $1,000 awards are funded through the MCC Foundation from an endowment established by Betty Young, Gayle Price and Sandra Jones, all nurses who cared for Mrs. Riley during her illness. Dr. William G. Riley completed the endowment and continues to make substantial annual contributions.

McLauren is a 1983 honors graduate of Mendenhall High School. Married and the mother of two children, she works full time at Greater Meridian Health Clinic. She plans to work in hospice care and home health care.

Coleman, a 1984 graduate of West Lauderdale High School, is the mother of three. She works part time for the Renal Care Group. Her plans are to pursue a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

Dysard is a 2003 graduate of Morton High School. In addition to her school work, she works full time and volunteers at nursing homes. She is a member of the Organization for Student Nurses. She would like to continue her education through the master’s program and become a nurse practitioner.

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Randolph Jeffery “Jeff” Parke of Meridian has been selected to receive the James C. and Garnett S. Wilbourn Family Scholarship at Meridian Community College. This $1,500 award is funded through the MCC Foundation from an endowment established by the Wilbourn Family.

Parke, a 2005 graduate of Lamar School, was a four-year member of the football team and a four-year member of the Bonfire Court. He is in the University Transfer Program with plans to pursue a career in dentistry.

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Jessica Dickey and Alan Rigdon, both of Collinsville, have been selected to receive the Harry and Vivian Boureau Family Scholarship for Music. This award is funded through the Meridian Community College Foundation from an endowment established by Mr. and Mrs. Boureau.

Dickey, a 2005 graduate of West Lauderdale High School, is a member of the MCC Chorus and the Dimensions, an auditioned performance troupe on campus. She is in the University Transfer Program with an emphasis in music. Her career plans include music performance, production and composing.

Rigdon, a 2005 graduate of West Lauderdale High School, was selected for the Lions All-State Band for three years. He is a member of the MCC Chorus, MCC Community Band, MCC Jazz Band, and Encore, an auditioned vocal and dance troupe. He plans to major in music and become a choral director.