Archives
 By  Staff Reports Published 
4:22 pm Thursday, September 27, 2001

Excellence in education

By Staff
Sept. 27, 2001
Sara Askew of Enterprise and Lee Seymour of Sandersville have been named Joyce Morrison Scholarship recipients at Meridian Community College.
The $1,000 scholarships are funded by the Joyce Morrison Memorial Scholarship Endowment through The MCC Foundation. The endowment was established through her bequest and additional contributions made by her three children Susan King of Philadelphia, Jan Cooper of Cleveland and Ken Morrison of Scottsdale, Ariz.
Askew and Seymour are both sophomores in MCC's Associate Degree Nursing Program.
DECATUR LeAnn Shirley of Meridian has joined the staff of East Central Community College as a surgical technology instructor.
Before joining the ECCC faculty, Shirley was a surgical technician and operating room coordinator at Riley Hospital in Meridian. She previously held the same position at Meridian Medical Associates and is a former obstetrics technician at Rush Foundation Hospital.
Shirley is a 1995 graduate of ECCC, where she earned an associate's degree in surgical technology.
DECATUR Teresa R. Thomas of Meridian is the new Associate Degree Nursing Program instructor at East Central Community College.
Thomas has 21 years experience as a registered nurse and continues to work part-time at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center in Meridian.
She holds a master's degree in nursing from the University of Southern Mississippi and a bachelor's degree in nursing from University Medical Center. She is also a graduate of Meridian Community College where she received an associate's degree in nursing.
Lawrence Franklin Hatten III of Meridian is the recipient of the Sen. James O. Eastland Law Scholarship at the University of Mississippi. The $30,000 scholarship is the most prestigious law scholarship given at Ole Miss.
Hatten is a 1996 honor graduate of Lamar High School and an Honors College graduate at Louisiana State University, where he earned a degree in animal science.
While at LSU, Hatten received the LSU Alumni Top 100 Scholarship, the Centennial Scholarship and the Charles Stewart Churchill Memorial Scholarship.
Hatten was a member of Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society, Gamma Sigma Delta Honor Society, Golden Key National Honor Society, Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society and Mortar Board.
He was selected to Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities and as the LSU College of Agriculture Outstanding Senior Male. He also served as an LSU Student Government senator and as chancellor of Alpha Zeta Fraternity.
Hatten is the son of Larry and Patricia Hatten of Meridian and was recently married to the former Marie Wall of Meridian.
JACKSON Shelly George and Brenda Buxton, staff members from Meridian Parents as Teachers, were among 62 people who recently completed the Parents as Teachers Training provided by the Forum on Children and Families.
PAT is an early childhood education program based on the belief that parents are the first and most influential teachers of children. Independent evaluations show that children involved in PAT are significantly more advanced in language, social development, problem-solving and other cognitive abilities.
The week-long training is required to become a certified Parent Educator.

Also on Franklin County Times
Vina man may have his bond revoked after messaging a minor
Franklin County, News, Z - News Main
By Kevin Taylor For FCT 
July 30, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — A Vina man, who was arrested and charged in 2024 with electronic solicitation of a child, could have his bond revoked after allegedly t...
City OKs ‘Women of True Grit’ agreement
A: Main, Franklin County, News, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 29, 2026
REDBAY–The city council has approved a $12,000 agreement with Hand in Hand Entertainment and Promotions for a one-year “Edie Hand: Women of True Grit”...
Fire training center addition triples size
A: Main, Franklin County, News, ...
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
July 29, 2026
Firefighters from throughout northwest Alabama use the fire rescue training center in Florence to test their skills in realistic drills, participate i...
Allred named state tourism director
News, Z - News Main
July 29, 2026
MONTGOMERY — Gov. Kay Ivey has announced the retirement of Alabama Tourism Director Lee Sentell, appointing Glenda Allred in his place. Former Gov. Bo...
Colbert shelter pays off building loan
News, Z - News Main
By Addi Broadfoot For the FCT 
July 29, 2026
TUSCUMBIA — Nearly 30 years after the Colbert County Animal Shelter borrowed money to build its current facility, the shelter has officially paid off ...
We must recommit to principles of freedom
Columnists, Opinion
July 29, 2026
Alabama’s commemoration of America’s 250th birthday was never intended to be confined to a single event, institution, or location. From the beginning,...
Fairy tale villains face day in court
Columnists, Opinion
HERE AND NOW
July 29, 2026
Once upon a time, the stories told only one side. Now it’s your turn to hear the evidence. As you step inside the courtroom, you’ll see some of your f...
July Fest features food, fun and fireworks
News
By María Camp maria.camp@franklincountyimes.com 
July 29, 2026
VINA — Community members gathered Saturday at the Vina Fire Department for the annual July Fest, enjoying food, vendors, a car show, musical performan...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *