Supporting Education
Scholarships
Because of the generosity of many donors, CHI Memorial Foundation is able to offer a variety of scholarships to employees to advance their education in the field of nursing. A total of $15,500 in scholarships were awarded for the 2023-2024 academic year, allowing eight nurses to achieve a first-time degree or advanced nursing degree.
Scholarships are available for the community through the MaryEllen Locher Scholarship Fund. Scholarships are available to the children of breast cancer patients--either survivors, those currently in treatment, or deceased. A total of $86,000 was awarded to 28 students for the 2023-2024 academic year.
2023-24 MaryEllen Locher Scholarship Recipients
Abigail Allen, Walker Valley High School senior
Lily Andrews, Signal Mountain High School graduate, attending UTK
Marion Andrews, Signal Mountain High School graduate, attending UTK
Connor Beach, Ooltewah High School graduate, attending the University of Mississippi
Lara Bennett, Silverdale Baptist Academy senior, Evelyn's Scholarship
Louise Brock, Girls Preparatory School senior
Saylor Brown, Notre Dame High School graduate, attending the UTK
Sarah Capps, Heritage High School graduate, attending University of West Georgia
Sharayah Daves, homeschool graduate, attending Belmont University, Angels Among Us Scholarship
Kamille Deloach, Boyd-Buchanan senior
Daniel Douglas, Cleveland High School graduate, attending Lee University, Volley for a Cure Scholarship
Kevyn Edinger, Bledsoe County High School senior, Wanda Weller Scholarship
Charles Riley Flynn, III, McCallie senior, Rock City Scholarship
Bailey Fowler, Ridgeland High School graduate, attending University of West Georgia, Shields Family Scholarship
Olivia Hamilton, Chattanooga Christian School graduate, attending the University of Georgia, Angels Among Us Scholarship
Brileigh Hicks, Bradley Central High School graduate, attending UTK
Ava Layne, Whitwell High School senior
Iris Luce, Collegiate High School graduate, attending Lee University
Elaine MacDougall, Notre Dame High school senior
Grace McDonald, McMinn County High School graduate, attending Maryville College
Reece Meagher, Cleveland High School senior
Matthew Merritt, McCallie School graduate, attending Yale University
Jacob Moore, Notre Dame High School senior
Sarah Reed, Ringgold High School graduate, attending University of Kentucky
Cali Sandhoff, Boyd Buchanan senior
Gilbert Strode, STEM School senior
Emily Thomson, Soddy-Daisy High graduate, attending ETSU
Anna Thomson, Soddy-Daisy High graduate, attending UTC, Guardian Angel Scholarship
William Woodall, Ridgeland High School senior, Tom and Kaky Bible Scholarship
About MaryEllen Locher
MaryEllen Locher was a truly inspiring and greatly loved community leader, news personality, wife, mother, and friend. A graduate of Penn State University, she began her journalism career in Pennsylvania. In 1985, she began work at WTVC in Chattanooga, Tennessee as the area's first health reporter. MaryEllen later became co-anchor of the top-rated station's evening news broadcasts. While working as a health reporter, she was diagnosed with cancer and began a battle that would last nearly 20 years and include three bouts with the disease. MaryEllen passed away in 2005 from breast cancer at the age of 45.
Dedicated to both her profession and to community service, MaryEllen received numerous awards for her work in journalism. She was a founding member of the Chattanooga Make-A-Wish Foundation. She started a program called Hats from the Heart, providing comfortable and stylish hats for those who lost their hair while battling cancer. This program is now in hospitals across America. MaryEllen also helped establish the MaryEllen Locher Breast Center at CHI Memorial which bears her name. The MaryEllen Locher Breast Center opened in 2006 and has been nationally recognized for the comprehensive medical care provided in the center.
MaryEllen and her husband, David, were married in 1988 and welcomed their son Alex in 1989. A committed Christian, MaryEllen made no apologies for her faith in Christ and encouraged those around her to put their trust in Him and accept His gift of eternal life.
More in Common Partnership
Supporting students in pursuing careers in medicine is vital to ensure a high quality healthcare system within the community. CHI Memorial partners with several educational institutions to allow rotations with the health system. One of CHI Memorial's key partnerships is with the Morehouse School of Medicine through the More in Common Alliance. This joint initiative between MSM and CommonSpirit will address the underlying causes of health inequity, including underrepresentation of black clinicians.
