Applications are available for memorial scholarship

Blanchard area students are reminded there is still time to apply for a Sarah Jones Memorial Scholarship through Blanchard Area Seniors Incorporated. Those interested should email [email protected] for more information and to get an application.

The scholarship is awarded in the spirit of Sarah Jones, who was killed by a drunken driver as she walked along Blanchard Cutoff Road in 2005. Jones was a vibrant, 18-year-old woman who loved life, worked hard and possessed talents that would have taken her far in life and BASIC members said it is an honor for them and the town of Blanchard to memorialize Jones’ BASIC established the scholarship program years ago, for students who live in the Blanchard area. Since that time, BASIC has continued to award small scholarships yearly. On March 10, 2005, at BASIC’s general membership meeting, the guidelines were revised/expanded to include educational trips for students and for future consideration of applicants who may want to submit applications more than once.

On that same day, two scholarships were approved for two deserving students, BASIC said in a press release about the scholarships. BASIC members also considered what to do with a scholarship that had been awarded in 2004 but was returned to them because the student, Sarah Marie Jones, was unable to meet the rest of the expenses needed to go to the college of her choice. It was decided that Sarah’s monies would be carried over to 2005 so another student could benefit from it. The members further decided that in the future all excess funds would be transferred to the coming year if not used in the previous year.

Sadly, that same evening, a drunken driver hit Jones as she walked along the Blanchard Cutoff Road and she died several days later. The scholarship is presented to two recipients approved each year and the scholarship program now bears Jones’ name so that her memory will be kept alive through gifts to deserving students.