The Sanilac County Community Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of the Walls/Flannigan 2020 Scholarship are Trenton Livingston, Mickenzie Atkins, Kennedy Jones, Ashley Robertson, Tara Adams, and Garrett Butler all graduates of Croswell-Lexington High School.
Trenton is the son of Matthew and Jessi Livingston of Croswell. He is attending St. Clair County Community College on a scholarship for cross country, indoor track, and track. He will also be taking part in the Ferris State 4 year satellite program for criminal justice. During high school he was a part of the cross country, indoor track, and track team.
Mickenzie is the daughter of William and Julie Atkins of Clyde. Mickenzie graduated Croswell-Lexington High School as a proud senior scholar and graduate of the class of 2020. She is attending Grand Valley State University.
Kennedy Jones is the child of Jodie Jones-Pennington and Michael Jones, as well as the stepchild of LeRoy Pennington and Genevieve Jones. In high school, she participated in many things including: drama club, soccer, tennis, powerlifting, and book club. Kennedy is attending Michigan State University where she is a student in their James Madison department. In the James Madison, she will study and learn about laws, before heading off to law school after earning her four-year degree.
Ashley Robertson is the daughter of Troy and Jennifer Robertson of Croswell. Throughout high school, she participated in varsity cheerleading and softball. She also played the flue in the Cros-Lex band for all four years of high school. Ashley is attending St. Clair County Community College with the intentions of later transferring to a four-year college to study Speech-Language Pathology. Ashley plans to work as a pediatric speech-language pathologist after completing the necessary schooling.
Tara Adams is the daughter of Amanda and Charlie Adams of Croswell. She did many activities in high school such as student council, as well as being a part of the Executive Board, National Honor Society, and powerlifting. Tara is attending Baker College of Owosso to earn a degree in Sonography.
Garrett Butler, graduate of Croswell Lexington high school from Croswell is attending St. Clair County Community College. During high school he enjoyed playing and watching sports, and is also something that he would like to study later on in college. Garrett is a really positive person and tries to always make peoples day with a smile or laugh.
Jane Walls and her husband, William “Dixie” Flannigan, felt a strong commitment to higher education when they established this scholarship in 2000. They hoped the scholarship would ease the financial burden of worthy students and provide opportunities that they themselves were not afforded.
Mrs. Walls was a dedicated first grade teacher in the Croswell-Lexington school system for over twenty years. Her college education was interrupted, first by WW II, and then by marriage and a family. When she was suddenly widowed at age 44, she found herself with two teenaged sons still at home, a family farm, and VERY few resources. She realized that the field of education would provide her with both security and a vocation. She returned to college, obtaining her Bachelor’s degree with high honors, and later completed her Master’s Degree in Teaching. Her dedication to teaching and learning was unparalleled. She regarded the teaching of first graders to read as one of her greatest accomplishments.
William Flannigan went into the carpentry business building many fine homes around the Croswell/Lexington area. He believed that honest hard work would not only put calluses on your hands but also build integrity and self-respect into your character. It is hoped that Jane and Dixie’s ideals will continue with this scholarship.
The Walls/Flannigan Scholarship is available to eligible graduating students of Croswell/Lexington High School, who are in the top 30% of their class and active in their community, pursuing a recognized degree program at a college, trade, or technical school.
The scholarship is administered through the Sanilac County Community Foundation. For more information about this fund, or to learn more about scholarship opportunities through the Sanilac County Community Foundation, contact Melissa Anderson, Executive Director, at the Foundation office at 810-648-3634.
