African American Heritage Society of Williamson County announces the 2020 T.E. Murdic Educational Scholarship winners annual “Prom Night Event” cancelled

 

Last year was an awesome year once again for the T. E. Murdic Educational Scholarship Program, as three married couples raised money for the opportunity for two or more high school seniors to receive $1,000 scholarships toward their college education.  The couples were William and Wanda Graham, Shelby and Lori Mitchell and James and Zonda Thomas. They worked extremely hard and the African American Heritage Society remains grateful to them and are pleased to announce that the following Williamson County High School seniors are receiving $1,000 scholarships this year: Mikah Charley, Battle Ground Academy, Savion Johnson, Franklin High School,  Solathus Johnson, Franklin High School, Amber Jones, Nolensville High School, Allison Kinnard, Nolensville High School, Tariah Lane, Brentwood Academy, Kendall Mitchell, Ravenwood High School, Kevin Townsel Jr., Centennial High School, Kaleb Williford, Brentwood High School and Meghan Ziegler, Battle Ground Academy.

Monies for the scholarship are raised by an annual prom event, with couples vying for the title of Mr. & Mrs. AAHS, as well as from sponsors and through individual donations. Shelby and Lori Mitchell currently hold the title of Mr. & Mr. AAHS.  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the scholarship prom this year has been cancelled and no contest for the Mr. & Mrs. AAHS title for 2020-2021 will be held.  The prom event, held every 3rd Saturday in July, which honors and recognizes the scholarship winners as well as raises funds for the scholarship, is cancelled also. There will be an opportunity to congratulate, drive by, honk and wave to all ten recipients on Saturday, July 25th, as they will be present at the McLemore House Museum, 446 11th Ave North, in Franklin, from 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.

The organization is still seeking sponsors and requesting donations from the community to support the youth of Williamson County in their pursuit of a higher education.  AAHS has awarded twenty-four $1,000 scholarships in the last six years and with the continued support of sponsors and individual donations, the program will be awarding scholarships again next year. Donations received will go directly to the Tom Murdic Educational Scholarship Fund and are tax deductible.

The Tom E. Murdic Educational Scholarship was created in March 2015 by the African American Heritage Society to honor and support a high school senior in the Williamson County community in the form of a $1,000 educational scholarship toward their college education. Realizing the importance of a quality education and appreciating how far African Americans have come in the education arena, the desire of the board of directors of AAHS is to give back to the youth in the community.  The Tom E. Murdic Educational Scholarship was created with this effort and named in honor of board member, community leader and Franklin native, Thomas Murdic, who was AAHS board president for many years and who left a great legacy. In addition to monetary support to an individual each year, AAHS’s hope is that the scholarship will provide an opportunity to educate youth in the community on African American History in Franklin and Williamson County and hopefully get them involved and interested in the rich history here. Application process for the year 2020-2021 will be open October 1, 2020 and will be due by March 1, 2021.

AAHS credits the dedicated fundraising work of the couples, the sponsors and those in the community for the success of this program. The sponsors for last year’s event and contributing to this year’s scholarship success are: Advanced Composites, Atmos Energy, Buerger, Moseley & Carson, Community Housing Partnership,  The Good Food Group, FM Bank, Roderick & Kay Heller, Let It Shine, Mayor Ken Moore, Middle Tenn. Electric, PLAMedia, The Parkes Companies, Inc., RNM Management. LLC, Stites & Harbison, Vanderbilt University and Williamson Medical Center, Media sponsors are: Williamson Herald, Your Williamson Magazine, Tennessean, Southern Exposure Magazine, Franklin/Brentwood Home Page and WAKM Radio.

AAHS is a 501(c)3 organization and tax-deductible donations may be made payable to: African American Heritage Society and mailed to: P. O. Box 1053, Franklin, Tn. 37065 or go to mclemorehouse.com to make an online donation. You may also contact Deborah Murdic at 615-504-0229 or Carolyn Wall at 615-973-2023 for more information.