Angel of Hope presents $9,000 in scholarships to county’s first set of recipients

The Angel of Hope for Covington County committee recognized six scholarship recipients and awarded $9,000 during a ceremony and reception at the Andalusia Area Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, July 24.

Seniors from each of the six high schools in Covington County were eligible to apply for the scholarship in the spring with $1,500 awarded to each recipient. Applicants were required to email a resume, a transcript, a letter of recommendation, and a personal essay. The letter had to be from a school employee, and the topic of discussion for the essay was finding healing and hope in the midst of adversity.

“The Angel of Hope for Covington County Scholarship was established to support local students who have demonstrated resilience and strength in the face of personal loss or crisis. We are so proud of all six recipients from this year and look forward to keeping in touch with them as they begin the next step in their educational careers. There were many worthy applicants, but I believe we made phenomenal choices,” Scholarship Committee Chairman Dawn Thompson said.

Committee members carefully reviewed the requirements from each submitted application and determined all incomplete documents to be ineligible. The Angel of Hope scholarship committee sent all payments directly to the institution of the recipient’s choice.

The 2024 Andalusia High School recipient is Nyla Crittenden. She is the daughter of Tiffany Stallworth and will be attending Auburn University.

“I am grateful to receive this scholarship because it reflects everything I have worked for. It motivates me to strive for a brighter future for myself,” Crittenden said. “Receiving this scholarship shows that others are truly appreciative of what you do for the community, and that is all I can be grateful for. I am excited this scholarship is helping me pursue my education.”

The 2024 Florala High School recipient is Shea Lowery. She is the daughter of John and Lacy Lowery and will be attending LBW Community College’s MacArthur campus in Opp.

“I am grateful to receive this scholarship because I have learned so much about Angel of Hope. I loved sharing my story with others and let them see a part of me most people do not know,” Lowery said.

The 2024 Opp High School recipient is Liz Ann Jackson. She is the daughter of Beth Jackson and Chad Jackson and will be attending Auburn University.

“I am beyond grateful for this scholarship and the wonderful organization that founded it,” Jackson said. “It is an investment in my future that allows me to pursue my educational and career goals while upholding my commitment to service above self. The Angel of Hope for Covington County is a light to many, and I’m so glad to be a part of this amazing community.”

The 2024 Pleasant Home School recipient is Sara Catherine Sansom. She is the daughter of Ronnie and Ashton Sansom and will be attending LBW Community College before transferring to Troy University.

“I am grateful to receive this scholarship because it will allow me to advance my education and kick start my future. I am also thankful for this scholarship making the transition from high school to college easier. It is an honor to be a recipient,” Sansom said.

The 2024 Red Level School recipient is Kennedy Lord. She is the daughter of Shawn and Krystie Lord and will be attending the University of Alabama.

“I am grateful for this scholarship because it gave me the opportunity to go to college. It has lightened my financial burden, which allows me to focus on the most important aspect of school: learning,” Lord said.

The 2024 Straughn High School recipient is Emma Pugh. She is the daughter of Shannon and Beverly Pugh and will be attending the University of North Alabama.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to further my education while also remembering someone who was very special to me,” Pugh said. “It’s an honor to be selected as one of the first recipients of the Angel of Hope scholarship. I’m thankful to be a part of such a compassionate and encouraging organization.”

The Angel of Hope for Covington County was formed in 2022 to erect a bronze angel statue and Memorial Garden in Andalusia at Robinson Park. Unveiled in September 2023, this monument serves as a place of reflection and remembrance for grieving parents and others touched by the loss of a child of any age, bringing healing and hope to everyone.

“We are honored to have established an Angel of Hope for Covington County. It took our volunteers 18 months to complete this task. The Angel of Hope is a place for parents and friends to visit and reflect, remember, and grieve for children who have passed away too soon. Our attention now turns to giving back to the community who gave so much to our original purpose of bringing the angel to Covington County,” Organizer Carol Moore said.

Following the success from Day of Hope events in 2022 and 2023, the committee plans to hold a third event in November 2024. More details will be announced on a later date.

The Angel of Hope for Covington County committee meets on the first Monday of each month, 5:30 p.m., at the First Methodist Church. Anyone is welcome to attend and volunteers are always needed.

“If you would like to be a part of our organization, we invite you to join us for meetings and help us make a difference. We are thankful to give back to the children still with us in our community when we have the opportunity,” Moore added.

For more information call Thompson at 334-464-2032 or Moore at 334-488-0659.

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