Scholarship to honor Eldie Dickey
Paul Willson and Rick Lay have partnered to found the Eldie Dickey Annual Scholarship at Tennessee Wesleyan College in Athens, Tenn., in honor of their former fifth-grade teacher.
The scholarship will award a minimum of $1,000 each year to a TWC student from McMinn County who has served in the U.S. military and has demonstrated financial need. Dickey chose to have the scholarship awarded to a veteran because of his military service with the 112th Infantry during the Korean Conflict. He later retired from the Tennessee National Guard as a first sergeant. He also served in the U.S. Air Force Reserves, retiring as a chief master sergeant.
Dickey began teaching at Ingleside Elementary School in Athens in 1958. He taught more than 30 years, serving as a teacher at Ingleside, a related math instructor and assistant director at the Technology Center, and a staff member at the state Department of Education.
“Up through fourth grade, I was a C student, I was an average student,” Lay says. “In fifth grade, Eldie took me one day, put his arm around me, and said ‘Listen, you’re not average. You have a great mind, and there’s no reason for you to be making grades like that.’ Nobody had ever told me ‘You’re smart; you really are. And you can make good grades.’ You can see my grade card turned around, and I was making As and Bs from then on.”
Willson and Lay say Dickey had a strong impact on many of his students, and they want to encourage other former students of his to contribute to the Eldie Dickey Annual Scholarship fund. For additional information about Tennessee Wesleyan College, visit www.twcnet.edu.
Phi Theta Kappa inducts 31
The Alpha Beta Mu chapter of Phi Theta Kappa international honor society at Chattanooga State Community College recently held its fall induction ceremony.
Phi Theta Kappa recognizes academic achievement of two-year college students. Eligible students must have completed 12 college-level credit hours with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5.
New members are Skyler Dean Allred, Stephen Hunter Arnold, Alicia Ruth Arthur, Amy Bockmon, Virginia Elizabeth Brooks, Mary Kathryn Button, Barry Steven Buttram and Elizabeth Ann Carlisle Rowe.
Also, Erin Marie Cody, Almanuel Daniel Everett Douglas, Megan Nicole Fannin, Ashlyn Ferguson, Jessica Leigh Fine, Kaitlyn Michelle Fox, Mary Elizabeth Gaither and Nathan Stuart Goza.
Also, Samantha Jo Hale, Sarah Grace Hall, James N. Helferich, Brenna Leigh Howell, Seth Wallace Jones, Madeleine Isabella Audrey King, Aimee Kay Lippard and Damon Robert Miller.
And Kaleb Michael Pollock, Johaina Poonawalla, Robert Andrew Sabin, James Warner Sharp, Michael Andrew Stone, Ian Warren and Jalisa Womble.
JA announces new board chairman
Junior Achievement of Chattanooga Inc. announces that Charles B. “Chad” Wortman has been elected chairman of its 2015-16 board. He is senior vice president of First Tennessee Bank. New members of the board are Katie Espeseth, Cherie Pashley, Karen Smith and Sherri Zink.
Glass House Collective receives grant
Glass House Collective is one of 12 applicants to be awarded a 2016 Creative Placemaking grant distributed by the Tennessee Arts Commission. The grant is for $8,000.
The Creative Placemaking grants competition is designed to build stronger communities through the arts in order to enhance the distinctive character of local Tennessee places for positive economic and community outcomes. Creative Placemaking animates public and private spaces, rejuvenates structures and streetscapes, improves local business visibility and public safety, and brings diverse people together.
Glass House Collective is located in urban East Chattanooga. The nonprofit was founded in 2012 to “bring life back to Glass Street and Glass Street back to life.” GHC has been working with residents and artists to make the commercial corridor and surrounding neighborhood cleaner, safer and more inviting.
Of the 12 recipients, GHC was one of two to receive full funding. The nonprofit plans to use the $8,000 to implement projects proposed in the “Next Big Thing Urbanism Workshop.” Examples include a bike repair station, a pop-up movie night, commissioning an artist to paint colorful crosswalks, commissioning an artist to design public art along the corridor gateways, developing pop-up “living room” installations and finding uses for six vacant properties.
“This grant will bring greater value and added exposure to the positive momentum happening along Glass Street,” said Teal Thibaud, executive director of the collective. “Glass Street and the surrounding community designed a great vision and we look forward to continue to make that vision a reality. We believe that small moves can collectively make a big difference.”
Stockdale wins cheerleading honor
Jessica Stockdale, daughter of Diane and Carry Stevenson, was recently selected to the 2015-2016 Tennessee Cheerleading Coaches Association’s All-State Cheerleading Squad.
The senior at Ooltewah High School was nominated by her coach, Wendy Smith. Stockdale was required to submit an application, an essay and to participate in an interview and formal tryout.
The 18-member all-state squad will be recognized at the 2015 Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association State Cheerleading Championship in Murfreesboro on Nov. 14 and will perform at the Toyota Tennessee All-Star football game in December.