MaryEllen Locher Scholarship Fund applications are now closed for 2025-26. Congratulations to our Scholarship winners!
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 $20,000 in scholarships were awarded for the 2025-2026 academic year, allowing 11 nurses to achieve a first-time degree or advanced nursing degree. Congratulations to the following scholarship recipients:
Mariel Samantha Adams, Christine and Henry Little Endowed Nursing Scholarship
Brittany Brannon, Melissa Roden Nursing Scholarship
Kimberly Brown, Schumacher Family Nursing Scholarship
Crimson Grace Chapman, Melissa Roden Nursing Scholarship
Katelyn Kennedy, Friends of Memorial Scholarship
Tessa Nicole Long, Friends of Memorial Nursing Scholarship
Jane Nunley, Friends of Memorial Nursing Scholarship
Aleena Shahbaz, Friends of Memorial Nursing Scholarship
Brenna Shaw, Friends of Memorial Nursing Scholarship
Rebecca Taylor, Schumacher Family Nursing Scholarship
Jomy Varghese, Friends of Memorial Resident Scholarship
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 $93,000 was awarded to 31 students for the 2025-2026 academic year.
2025-26 MaryEllen Locher Scholarship Recipients
Abigail Allen, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Lily Andrews, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
Lauren Bailey, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Savannah Blanks, Dalton State College
Isabel Brittingham, Kennesaw State University
Louise Brock, Mississippi State University
Isley Clark, University of Tennessee Knoxville
Natalee Combs, ETSU - Just One More Scholarship
Shanel Daves, University of the Cumberlands
Shaw Daves, University of the Cumberlands
Brenda Davis, Cumberland University
Bailey Fowler, University of West Georgia - Shields Family Scholarship
Emma Fowler, Chattanooga State
Georgia Gibson, Lee University
Ana Grace, University of Tennessee Knoxville
Ella Green, Covenant College
Madison Gross, Bryan College
Olivia Hamilton, UGA - Angels Among Us Scholarship
Gracie Hibbs, University of Tennessee Knoxville - Gorski Family Scholarship
Margot Kapic, Covenant College
Jelleny Mallozzi, UT Southern - Just One More Scholarship
Elizabeth Malone, Coastal Carolina University
Abigail Markey, Carson-Newman University - Wanda Weller Scholarship
Madison Markey, Lee University
Mark Nashi, Columbia University - Guardian Angel Scholarship
Samantha Paik, University of Tennessee at Martin
Delea Partridge, Austin Peay University or Middle Tennessee University - Just One More Scholarship
Campbell Ruehling, Bryan College
Cali Sandhoff, Covenant College
Emily Thomson, ETSU
William Woodall, Georgia Southern University - 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.
