FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 6, 2003
FY03-15
ORAU Awards Pollard Scholarships to 5 Area Students
OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) awarded five William G. Pollard scholarships in the amounts of $1,200 each toward undergraduate studies for the 2003-2004 academic year.
The scholarships, presented in honor of ORAU founder William G. Pollard, were awarded to area students who are displaying outstanding academic achievement in high school or undergraduate studies and are children of ORAU employees.
Anderson County High School student Matthew Braden is the son of Nancy and Mike Braden of Lake City. Since May 2002, Braden has performed 100 hours of community service and received the Presidential Student Service Award. His community service included coaching minor T-ball, building a baseball clubhouse, participating in a Peers Educating with Experience for Real Skills (PEERS) and Students Teaching and Respecting Sexuality (STARS) workshop and Anderson County Football Camp. He is the former Vocational Industrial Clubs of America president, is a member of the National Honor Society and Student Government Association. Braden was also named a 2003 Scholar Athlete by the East Tennessee Chapter of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame. Upon graduation from Anderson County High School, Braden is planning on attending Tennessee Technological University where he will study civil engineering.
Oak Ridge High School (ORHS) senior Ashley Butturini is the daughter of Rick and Janet Butturini of Oak Ridge. A National Merit Commended Student and member of the National Honor Society, Butturini won the Presidential Silver Award for Community Service in VolunTEEN Corps, a program matching interested teens with community agencies to provide volunteer opportunities. She received second place in sports layout in the University of Tennessee School of Journalism state yearbook design competition, and has been a member of the ORHS varsity cheerleading squad, cross-country team, track team, intramural girl’s flag football team, Key Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Chamber Singers. Upon graduation, Butturini plans on attending the University of Tennessee (UT) and studying education.
Sarah Lesesne, a senior at ORHS, is the daughter of John and Nancy Lesesne of Oak Ridge. Lesesne is currently ranked second in her class, is a member of the National Honor Society, and was named a National Merit Commended Student. As an Oak Ridge Rowing Association team member, she won first place in the Southeast Rowing Championship two years in a row and has placed 10th and 11th in national championship regattas. She has been a member of her church choir and youth group, ORHS swim team, and ORHS marching band.
Vanessa Gayle O’Neal, a freshman at Tennessee Technological University (TTU), is the daughter of Joree and Bill O'Neal of Oliver Springs. An aspiring businesswoman, O’Neal is on the Dean’s list and qualified for Alpha Lambda Delta honor society at TTU. She was recently honored by the Business College of TTU for maintaining a 4.0 grade point average during her freshman year. An Oliver Springs High School honor graduate, O’Neal was appointed vice president and then president of Oliver Springs High School Fellowship of Christian Athletes, served as editor of its high school newspaper, was student council representative and then secretary, was captain of the cross-country team, and played varsity basketball and softball. O’Neal was also a Students Teaching and respecting Sexuality (STARS) panelist, visiting area middle schools to speak to children about the dangers of having sex at a young age. Currently, O’Neal is considering becoming a high school teacher and assistant basketball coach.
UT student William (Billy) Shipley is the son of Sally and Nat Shipley of Oak Ridge. Shipley is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in nursing and plans to continue his education for a master’s degree to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. A junior at UT, he has been on the Dean’s list every semester during his college career. He received the Oak Ridge Boy’s Club Scholarship and Maryville College Excellence Award for extraordinary commitment and leadership as a resident assistant while attending Maryville College. He also played baseball his freshman year at Maryville College and has volunteered for the Oak Ridge Baseball Association, serving as an umpire and maintaining its baseball fields. Shipley volunteers for the Oak Ridge High School Football Boosters Club and has participated in area Habitat for Humanity projects.