Hearts and Hands Scholarship Fund announces 2008-2009 recipients

The Hearts and Hands Scholarship Fund is awarding scholarships totaling $13,700 to 20 Townsend students this year. The students and the schools they are attending are:

Phillip Massey- Maryville College

Jordan Kear - Tennessee Technical Institute

Jake Payne - East Tennessee State University

Aaron Johnson - Maryville College

Joseph Sullivan - Pellissippi State

Techical Community College

Mary Hmielewski - University of

Tennessee - Knoxville

Alyssa Hmielewski - University of

Tennessee - Knoxville

Elizabeth Funke - Southern

Mississippi Univeristy

Sarah Smolka - University of

Tennessee - Knoxville

Michael Adkins - Tennessee State

University

Mitchel Chambers - Pellissippi State Techical Community College

Russell Chambers - Urbana University

Sandra Chambers - Pellissippi State Techical Community College

Tyler Lowery - University of

Tennessee - Knoxville

Kayla Simmons - Reuben Allen College

Justin Caines - Maryville College

Hannah Muelder - Carson-Newman

College

Leigha Austin - Carson-Newman

College

Kyle Wigginton - University of Mobile

Noah McDougall - University of

Tennessee – Knoxville

Awards range from $500 to $800 each. In addition, the first Dorothy Storey Scholarship was awarded this year. Dorothy Storey is one of the group’s founding members and has given of herself tirelessly to ensure the success of the Hearts and Hands fund.

An additional $1000 was designated for a student who has shown exceptional service to his/her community. The first recipient of this special recognition is Jake Payne. Payne will be a senior this year at East Tennessee State University, majoring in criminal justice.

He is also an officer candidate for the US Marine Corp and will be commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant upon completion of his senior year. Payne has done extensive volunteer work for the Great Smoky National Park since he was 12 years old.

The Hearts and Hands Scholarship fund was established in 1994 to award scholarships to Townsend residents attending regionally accredited colleges or vocational schools. With this year’s distribution, about $108,000 will have been given to local students.

The entire community of Townsend participates in events such as bake sales at Townsend Spring and Fall Festivals and an annual White Elephant Sales to help build the fund. Hearts and Hands also sponsors recycling efforts in Townsend for newspapers, magazines, cardboard and aluminum cans. For further information, see www.heartsandhandsfund.org or call Susan Pasquini, 865-448-1942.