The Jackson Madison County Sports Hall of Fame Board of Directors sponsors the Billy and Margie Schrivner Scholarship in honor of the couple’s dedication to the organization. Billy is a Hall of Fame inductee and former president and board member. Although retired from the active board, Billy still serves in an advisory capacity. Billy and Margie have demonstrated a passion for the Hall of Fame’s mission over the years and have dedicated countless hours of their time to promote the recognition of sports excellence in Jackson-Madison County.
Amber Byrd of Liberty Technology Magnet High School is the recipient of the Billy and Margie Schrivner Scholarship. Byrd played softball, soccer, basketball, volleyball, and tennis, and cheered for the Crusaders. In softball, she was voted Most Valuable Player, Best All-Around, and Best Defensive Player. In soccer, her team won their district and competed in the state tournament, and she was named Most Valuable Player. Her basketball team was district runner-up and competed in the sub-state tournament. Byrd competed in the DECA state tournament twice, Skills USA state competition three times, and with Virtual Enterprises International. She won first place in the foreign language fair for the tri-fold competition, and graduated from the Youth Advisory Council. Byrd holds a 3.9 GPA and plans to attend Northwest Florida State University.
The Morgan Kelley Memorial Award is presented in memory of Morgan Kelley by her family Mike and Jan Kelley. Morgan graduated from Madison Academic Magnet High School and was a student at Lambuth University. Morgan had a heart defect, and her family wishes to preserve her memory by providing other high school athletes financial assistance for their educational pursuits.
Anna Claire Winchester of Trinity Christian Academy is the recipient of the Morgan Kelley Memorial Award. Winchester played volleyball for the TCA Lions and the Jackson Juniors club team. For her outstanding performance on the volleyball court, Winchester was named All-West Tennessee Player of the Year in 2016, All-West Tennessee First Team in 2015 and 2016, District Player of the Year in 2016, All-State in 2015 and 2016, and All-District in 2015. She ranks seventh in Tennessee for most digs in a game. Winchester holds a 4.3 GPA and plans to attend Union University to play volleyball.
The Morgan Leah McCarty Memorial Scholarship Foundation is a non-profit organization funding college scholarships to local student athletes. The foundation was established in September 2006 in loving memory of Morgan Leah McCarty. Morgan was a junior at UT Knoxville when she was hit and fatally injured by a hit-and-run driver. Morgan’s legacy will be to help students complete their college education.
Natalie Sullivan of University School of Jackson is the recipient of the Morgan Leah McCarty Memorial Scholarship. Sullivan played soccer for the Bruins and the Jackson Futbol club team, and she ran track. Her soccer team were state finalists her freshman year and state semi-finalists her sophomore and junior years. Off the field, Sullivan was a member of the TMTA Math Team, National Honor Society, Tri M Music Honor Society, Science National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Social Studies National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, DSA Buddy Club, Students Against Destructive Decisions (S.A.D.D.) Club, International and Spanish Clubs, Key Service Club, and Concert Choir. In addition, she served her peers as SGA Vice President and President of Science National Honor Society senior year, Class Vice President and Secretary of S.A.D.D. junior year, and Class Treasurer sophomore year. She was recognized as an AP Scholar and Junior Marshall. Sullivan holds a 4.7 GPA and plans to attend the University of Georgia.
The R. Bradley Hancock Award is given by the Board of Directors of the Hall of Fame annually as a memorial to former board member Brad Hancock. Brad’s legacy is a testament to his life and the good works he did. He was instrumental in starting the scholarship foundation, so it is only fitting that an award bears his name.
Shea Dean of South Side High School is the recipient of the R. Bradley Hancock Award. Dean played volleyball for the Hawks and the Jackson Juniors club team. She received All-District and All-Tournament honors all four years. She was named Volleyball Player of the Year her sophomore, junior, and senior years, as well as the West Tennessee Hitter of the Year her junior and senior years. With a 4.0 GPA, Dean ranks fourth in her class and plans to attend Freed-Hardeman University to play volleyball.
The R. Buddy Patey Award is a one-time award spsonsored by friends of Buddy Patey to honor him for his years of service to TSSAA, the Ohio Valley Conference, and the Southeastern Conference as a football official and supervisor. Patey’s career spanned over 50 years, and this award culminated from a city-wide Buddy Patey Day.
Wells Smith of University School of Jackson is the recipient of the Buddy Patey Scholarship. Smith played football all four years and soccer for one year. For his performance on the football field, Smith received All-State honors his junior year and was selected for the All-District First Team and All-West Tennessee First Team. As captain his senior year, Smith received Most Valuable Player, an award voted on by his teammates. He also was named to the All-District First Team for offense and All-West Tennessee First Team. Smith’s peers selected him as Mr. USJ for the class of 2017. Smith holds a 3.4 GPA and plans to attend Birmingham Southern College.
The Richard Ross Scholarship honors the memory of the late Richard Ross, who was a Hall of Fame inductee in 1993. He was the head football coach at Jackson High School and Jackson Central-Merry High School from 1966 to 1985. He passed away in 1993 after a long battle with cancer. The scholarship was established shortly after to help athletes with their college costs.
Rhett Peel of University School of Jackson is the recipient of the Richard Ross Scholarship. Peel played defensive end for the football team and was a member of the state championship baseball team. As football captain his senior year, Peel was named All-District twice, All-West Tennessee, All-State, Defensive MVP in the West Tennessee All Star game, and Brandon’s Beast four times. He led the team in tackles (82), sacks (11), and tackles for loss (18). On the baseball field, Peel was named All-District in 2015. Off the field, Peel was involved in theater productions, including this spring’s production of High School Musical. He was also a Student Ambassador and a member of the USJ Honor Council. USJ faculty selected Peel as a Boys’ State delegate, and he represents USJ as a Junior Rotarian. He has been very active in the community, volunteering for RIFA and the Down Syndrome Baseball League. Peel holds a 3.6 GPA and plans to continue his football career in college.
The Sports, Orthopedics and Spine Scholar Athlete Award honors an athlete who has excelled in their athletic endeavors, as well as scholastic achievements, while a Jackson-Madison County student. This athlete is recommended by guidance counselors and coaches. Funding is possible due to a grant provided by Dr. Keith Nord and the staff from the Sports, Orthopedics and Spine Clinic.
Eric Whisenant of University School of Jackson is the recipient of the Sports, Orthopedics and Spine Scholar Athlete Award. Whisenant has been a member of the Jackson Gator Swim Club since sixth grade, setting 23 team records since 2013. He is a U.S. Open qualifier, Junior National qualifier, three-time Academic All-American, and three-time All-American. In the State High School meet, he placed first in the 100m backstroke (‘16, ‘17), seventh in the 100m backstroke (‘15), third in the 200m freestyle (‘17), and seventh in the 200m freestyle (‘15, ‘16). He was a member of the Environmental Club, Key Club, Spanish Club, National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, TMTA USJ Math Team, Social Studies National Honor Society, English National Honor Society (Historian), Science National Honor Society (Co-Vice President), and Mu Alpha Theta Honor Society. He was nominated to attend Boys’ State, recognized as an AP Scholar with Distinction and National Merit Commended student, and awarded the Bausch + Lomb Honorary Science Award, the AP Biology medal, and Honors Biology medal. Whisenant plans to attend Harvard University as a member of the swim team.
The Sports, Orthopedics and Spine Athlete Awards honor athletes who have excelled in their athletic endeavors and other extracurricular activities while a Jackson-Madison County student. These athletes are recommended by guidance counselors and coaches. Funding is possible due to a grant provided by Dr. Keith Nord and the staff from the Sports, Orthopedics and Spine Clinic.
Brynne Lytle of Trinity Christian Academy is a recipient of the Sports, Orthopedics and Spine scholarship. Lytle is an All-State athlete in basketball, soccer, cross country, and track. Lytle holds several Trinity records as the all-time leading scorer in basketball with 2,410 points, all-time leader in steals in basketball, and all-time leading scorer in soccer with 116 goals. Lytle has received All-West Tennessee First Team and All-District honors in three sports, in addition to being nominated as Miss Basketball and named Offensive Player of the Year in soccer, District 15-A Player of the Year in basketball, and Region 8-A Runner of the Year in track. Lytle is an AP Scholar and a member of the National Honor Society and National Society of High School Scholars. Lytle holds a 4.5 GPA and plans to attend Christian Brothers University on an athletic scholarship to study pre-pharmacy.
Tedarius Wilson of North Side is a recipient of the Sports, Orthopedics and Spine scholarship. Wilson played football for the Indians and served his team as captain. He was named All-District Honorable Mention in 2014, All-Region Second Team for defense in 2015, and Football Player of the Week in October 2013. Wilson was nominated for the Leadership Ambassador Program, Youth Advisory Council, and National Youth Leadership Forum in Engineering and Technology. Wilson was a member of Beta Club and selected by his peers as Homecoming King his senior year. As a four-year honor student, Wilson holds a 3.9 GPA and plans to attend the University of Tennessee to study architectural design and eventually build an architecture firm.
The Van and Louise Thompson Scholarship honors the memory of Van and Louise Thompson. Van is a Hall of Fame inductee and a former Jackson High School multi-athlete star. He played tailback on two National Championship teams at the University of Tennessee in the late 30s and early 40s, when the Volunteers went to the Orange, Rose, and Sugar Bowls. Louise is also a UT graduate and taught school in Jackson for over 25 years.
Shawn Brooks of North Side High School is the recipient of the Van and Louis Thompson Scholarship. Brooks was a four-year member of the golf and baseball teams. As catcher for the baseball team, Brooks had a batting average of .375 and a .583 on-base percentage. He was captain of the golf team and placed runner-up at the district tournament his junior year. Off the field, Brooks participated in Leadership University and was a member of Junior Rotarian, Beta Club, Drama Club, Climate Club, choir, and the Junior ROTC program. He’s also actively involved in his church youth group through mission trips and musicals, and he was in Boy Scouts as an Eagle Scout. With a 4.0 GPA, Brooks will graduate as valedictorian of his senior class. Brooks plans to attend the University of Tennessee at Knoxville to study pre-law and then go on to law school.