Sixteen Chattanooga area students have been awarded $34,500 in college scholarships from the MaryEllen Locher Foundation. 

The MaryEllen Locher Foundation is a national college scholarship program for children who have either lost a parent to breast cancer or have a parent who is a breast cancer survivor. The awards are designed to ease the financial and emotional burdens faced by families dealing with the disease.

The organization was founded in 2002 by MaryEllen Locher, a well-known WTVC news anchor and health reporter. She started the foundation because she was concerned about the future of her own son. Ms. Locher died in 2005 after her third bout with cancer. 

Area winners include: 

Emily Bishop, Bradley Central High School graduate, attending Lee University:  Volley for the Cure Scholarship 

Quincey Caylor, Ooltewah High School graduate, attending UTK:  MaryEllen Locher Foundation Scholarship

Trae Cody, Bradley Central High School graduate, attending Lee University: Volley for the Cure Scholarship 

Casey Crump, Southeast Whitfield High School graduate, attending Bryan College:  Rock City Scholarship 

Garrett Fuller, Chattanooga Christian School graduate, attending UTC:  Scenic City Survivors Scholarship 

Gretchen Higdon, Ooltewah High School graduate, attending Lee University:  Wanda Weller Scholarship 

Jasmine Johnson, Hixson High School graduate, attending Belmont University:  Hixson High Pink Out Scholarship 

Justin Johnson, Hixson High School graduate, attending UTC:  Hixson High Pink Out Scholarship 

Zachary McKelvey, Baylor School graduate, attending the University of Alabama:  Hoops for Hope Scholarship  

Taylor Mullinax, Gordon Lee High School graduate, attending Dalton State College:  Rock City Scholarship 

Alexandra Mullin, Notre Dame High School graduate, attending the University of South Carolina:  Industrial Boiler Scholarship 

Libby Peigen, Ooltewah High School graduate, attending Lee University:  Volley for the Cure Scholarship 

Helen Reynolds, homeschool graduate, attending Chattanooga State Community College:  Wanda Weller Scholarship 

Raquel Terry, Tyner Academy graduate, attending East Tennessee State University:  MaryEllen Locher Foundation Scholarship 

Laura Wagner, Girls Preparatory School graduate, attending Rhodes College:  Industrial Boiler Scholarship  

Luke Ziegler, Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences graduate, attending Middle Tennessee State University:  Hoops for Hope Scholarship 

Nationwide, 35 scholarships totaling $44,000 were awarded for the 2012-13 school year. The foundation has awarded 255 scholarships totaling $474,000 since its inception. 

Funds for the MaryEllen Locher Foundation are raised through special events, individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and private grants. The foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and all contributions are tax-deductible.  

For more information about the MaryEllen Locher Foundation, contact Cindy Pare, administrator, at 490-4555 or cindy@melfoundation.org, or visit the website at www.melfoundation.org.