The directors of the Taylor-Odom Foundation have selected six students from local high schools as the recipients of this year’s scholarships. The students, who will graduate this year, collectively will receive $60,000 in college scholarships for the 2024 calendar year.
Thirty-five students from Dayton, Hardin, Hull-Daisetta, Liberty and Tarkington submitted applications that were reviewed by the Taylor-Odom Foundation directors before final selections were made. This year’s recipients are Bentley McIlwain from Dayton High School, Chloe Sellers and KayDee Stevens from Hardin High School, and Isabella Hargrave, Lexi Chaparro and Jaime Lopez from Liberty High School.
The purpose of the Foundation is to provide financial aid to graduating high school seniors who otherwise might not be able to afford advanced education.
Eligible students must reside in Liberty County and graduate from one of the high schools mentioned above. The amount of the scholarship varies based upon a student’s pursuit of a four-year degree, a two-year degree or vocational/technical certification from accredited institutions in the State of Texas.
Since its inception, the Taylor-Odom Foundation has awarded more than $1,040,000 in scholarships.
This is the seventh year for the granting of scholarships by the Taylor-Odom Foundation. The Foundation was founded to honor two parents, Davey Lea Taylor Odom and Douglas E. “Doc” Odom, who instilled in their children that knowledge through higher education and hard work are keys to a good life.