Hutton overcomes adversity to win scholarship to MTSU

The invitation-only scholarship program was held last night in the Emmett and Rose Kennon Sports Hall of Fame adjacent to Murphy Center.

The painful death of a family member can pull apart or bring together a family. After the loss of her brother, Michael, in 2004, Amy has found her strength and comfort in friends, family and teachers.

‘The thing that has gotten me through this nightmare is all the love God has blessed me with through my family, friends and teachers,’ Hutton, a Morrison resident, wrote in her scholarship application essay. ‘If it were not for these people in my life, then I would not be half the person I am today.’

Hutton knows the importance of friends who know the meaning of friendship and teachers who bring out the best in her because she knows they care for her beyond her education.

She holds offices in Student Council, National Honor Society and Family Career Community Leaders of America, and was co-captain of the volleyball team.

‘Amy is exactly the kind of student a teacher wants in the classroom,’ said one of her teachers.

In addition to Hutton, this year’s Neill-Sandler scholarship recipients include Lacey Parchman of DeKalb County High School in Smithville; Courtney Ashburn of Huntland High School in Franklin County; Macie Mayberry of Tullahoma High School; Bridget Snell of Coffee County Central High School in Manchester; Kristen Bay of Lebanon High School; Mistee Harris of Riverdale High School in Murfreesboro; Ashley Ramsey of Cannon County High School in Woodbury; Matthew Bain of Cascade High School in Wartrace; and Kenneth James Trader of Brentwood High School.

The students were nominated by their schools and school systems and have endured tough times. Despite their situations, each has excelled in the classroom and on college entrance examinations and exhibited leadership in and out of school.

Scholarships provided through the Neill-Sandler Foundation and The Danner Company, a Nashville-based business led by Ray Danner, will go to deserving students from the Bedford, Cannon, Coffee, DeKalb, Franklin, Rutherford, Warren, Williamson and Wilson County school systems, and Tullahoma City Schools.

Kippy Todd, assistant director for annual giving and donor relations in the MTSU Office of Development, said 95 recipients have benefited from the scholarships since 1999. An annual golf tournament, usually held the first Wednesday in October, helps raise scholarship funds.