The Sanilac County Community Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of the Walls/Flannigan 2021 Scholarship are Hailey Kerrigan, Erin Manns, and Brody Seaman all graduates of Croswell-Lexington High School.
Hailey is the daughter of Bill and Amy Kerrigan of Croswell. During high school at Cros-Lex, she participated in cross-country. Hailey plans to obtain a degree in Elementary Education while attending Saginaw Valley State University.
Erin is the daughter of Bill and Jo Lynn Manns. At Cros-Lex she was a member of the Student Council, National Honors Society, and various other leadership and athletic groups. Erin is attending Indiana Wesleyan University, where she is running cross country and track and pursuing a Bachelor’s in Social Work. Upon completion of her BSW, she plans to earn a Master’s Degree in Social Work as well.
Brody’s parents are Eric Seaman and Julia Seaman, and he has a younger sister named Cassidy. In high school at Cros-Lex, he was very involved in extracurricular activities. Brody participated in four sports (three each year) including soccer, basketball, wrestling, and track. Sports have been, and will continue to be, a big hobby of his, as he has played soccer since he was in kindergarten and he hopes to be a part of the numerous sports clubs that Wayne State offers. He was also a member of student council and executive board, as well as trustee of the National Honor Society. Brody plans to major in finance while attending Wayne State University.
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.
