Mark Allen Martin of Maynardville. graduated from the University of Tennessee and taught music in the Union County school system for 27 years. He was known as a terrific teacher, highly skilled and talented musician, friendly, and loved to joke around. The Union County Lions Club honors his memory by awarding scholarships to UCHS High School seniors in his name.

There were very few options for high school seniors back in the 1960’s-70’s. Women could go to nursing school and learn how to empty bedpans, give medications and change beds – not much else. They could become secretaries, marry and be a homemaker, or go to a teaching college to become teachers. Not a whole lot of options or support for women entering other fields. Men had some more options in various trades and college educated careers.

But NOW! There are classes in high school that I have never heard of before (and I actually have to ask what they are). There are skills and degrees in subjects I had no idea existed. The variety of careers that young men and women can choose from is amazing.

The Union County Lions Club offered 7 scholarships to UCHS seniors planning to go to a trade school or college. This year there were 19 applications. Nineteen seniors who had done well in their high school years and wished a little financial support for their post-high school costs. Students were scored on a 150-word essay and an informal meeting with four community and Lions Club members. The difficulty for the judges was that all 19 of these students were really impressive and scored very well in the essay and the interview period. It was extremely challenging to choose only 7.

Baked by Rheagan is a small local baking business started by Rheagan Collins. She loves what she does and feels that her baking business has given her great experience in entrepreneurship. Rheagan says that she has learned about determination, innovation and collaboration by running this business. Having been a Beta Club President and Captain of her soccer team has honed her analytical and leadership skills and led her to the decision to become a Business Major. The University of TN at Chattanooga offers a major in Entrepreneurship and that seems like a perfect fit for this ambitious young woman.

Adrian Moore has a handle on what it takes financially to get a degree. As a recipient of the Tennessee Promise Scholarship, he plans to attend Roane State Community College and then transfer to Tennessee Tech. This allows him to live at home while saving for TN Tech. His dream? He is engrossed with computer software and computational systems. Adrian has taken classes in Mechatronics, Composition and others that correspond with the field of Computer Science and which will help to better prepare him for his college classes. His goal? To become a Security Coder! A field that has, unfortunately, become a necessity in today’s world.

Some people are driven towards specific goals. This drive may appear in young people or may not show up until later in life. Makenzie Chisum wants to make a difference. She is not entirely sure how specifically she will do that, but she is willing to explore all options and feels that a degree in pre-medical biology will open doors that may not even be there yet. While some may say pre-med is only for doctors, today the options include research associate, professor, physical or occupational therapist, respiratory therapist, pharmaceutical scientist, medical technologist, and so many more. She knows that a medical field is the route she wants to travel, and she has a road map for the trip.

A lot of people say that they love children, love being with children. But often, they don’t have the actual experience to back this up – it’s just a warm and fuzzy feeling. As an employee of Classy Kids Daycare, Zoey Smith has the experience of helping kids prepare for their next step – kindergarten. She likes the challenge of finding creative and effective ways to assist them in their learning and growing experience. She had an experience in her life of meeting a nonverbal child and watching him flourish when he started taking speech pathology. She is excited about becoming a pediatric speech pathologist, coming back home and serving the people of her community. You go, Zoey!!

Occupational Therapy is a profession dedicated to helping people with various disabilities develop skills to perform Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). This can include eating, dressing, getting into or out of a bed or chair, taking a bath or shower, preparing meals, etc. As part of the UCHS cheerleading team for 4 years, Bree Corum learned how important it is to pay attention to overall health and well-being. This piqued her interest in the mechanics of the body. She has a good grasp of what the challenges will be to become a Licensed Occupational Therapist and plans to offer her services in Union County so that folks needing this type of specialized therapy can get it close to home.

Maggie Lucas believes that a teacher provides a pathway to impacting the future by educating students. There is joy in observing a student grasp a new concept, define a new idea, grow in in their own way. Maggie is aware that there is a psychology of teaching, and that each student brings their own experiences , baggage, and knowledge to the classroom. Her mom worked in the Union County School System so Maggie spent some time after school or on school vacations with her mom. She has observed and learned. Her goals include making learning fun and helping students grow. She will be attending Johnson University to pursue a degree in education.

With a firm goal of becoming a successful businesswoman and corporate leader, Addison Harrison plans to get a Bachelor of Business Administration. She feels that this degree will prepare her with theoretical knowledge of human resource management, marketing finance, and operations management. To build on this knowledge, Addison plans on networking at professional events, conferences and business forums, believing that this will enhance her knowledge as well as open doors for her. Learning is a life-long road, which Madison seems well aware of. A business degree is just the first step. She is goal-oriented and has a well-organized and realistic action plan.

The members of the Lions Club sincerely wish they had the funds to bestow scholarships on all 19 of these worthy applicants. Congratulations and the best of luck to Rheagan Collins, Adrian Moore, Makenzie Chisum, Zoey Smith, Bree Corum, Maggie Lucas, and Addison Harrison.