Combs chosen as John T. Belcher Scholarship nominee

KHS Senior Meredith Combs was recently named the Kennett Board of Education's nominee for the John T. Belcher Scholarship. File photo

The Kennett Board of Education recently announced Meredith Combs as its nominee for the John T. Belcher Memorial Scholarship.

A senior at Kennett High School, Combs is the daughter of Paul T. and Holly Combs, was one of five "outstanding applicants" from the senior class who applied for the scholarship nomination, according to Board of Education Secretary Donna Haman.

Haman said the board based its selection on academic achievement, leadership abilities, and the quality of an essay on a topic related to public education.

"I am very excited to be chosen as the Kennett Board of Education's nominee," Combs said. "It is a very huge honor to be chosen from the students at Kennett High School."

An active member of Kennett High School, Combs is involved in K Club, Spanish Club, Cheerleading, Student Council, Choir, Library Club, Alpha and Omega, and is the Kennett High School Yearbook editor.

Combs is also currently serving as the Missouri-Arkansas District Secretary of Key Club.

The John T. Belcher Memorial Scholarship is a Missouri School Boards' Association (MSBA) scholarship established in the memory of Belcher, who was instrumental in developing a number of innovative financing programs that improved the learning environment for thousands of Missouri public school students. Belcher died in 1989 following a battle with cancer.

The MSBA's Scholarship Committee will award scholarships of $750 each to a deserving student in each of MSBA's 17 regions in order to allow those students to continue their education. From that group, the committee will select on statewide winner who will receive a $1,500 scholarship. Regional winners will be recognized at MSBA's spring meeting in April.