Jordan Burns Legacy Continues While Helping Others with Memorial Scholarship

Because Jordan . . . three students from the high school Class of 2024 were awarded the Jordan Burns Memorial Scholarship which was created in honor of Jordan, a 2017 Bolivar Central High School graduate who passed away unexpectedly on April 16, 2021, after a courageous battle with cancer. Jordan’s mother, Carrie Dyer Taylor, and Jordan’s grandmothers, Charlotte Dyer and Christine Burns, proudly presented Caitlyn Clark, Bolivar Central High School; Madison Doyle, Middleton High School; and Kayla Price, Huntingdon High School, with their scholarship awards.

“This day and age is hard but to come across young ladies that are humble and kind and not afraid to go the extra mile and working hard says a lot,” said Taylor, who noted she did not make the scholarship application process easy. “They had to write a minimum of a 1,000-word essay and there were key points they had to answer within that essay. Jordan earned everything she received, so I figured I would make sure these young ladies earned this scholarship.”

Despite Jordan’s cancer diagnosis and difficult medical treatment, she received while a patient at St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Jordan pushed through and continued her biology major and Spanish minor studies. In May 2021, Jordan was given her diploma posthumously by the University of Memphis, and also was given a Senate Resolution by Senator Page Walley posthumously to showcase her public servants heart.

When it came down to determining the recipients who exemplified Jordan and the goal of the scholarship, Ms. Taylor chose those three students based on the detail in their responses.

“Their willingness to help others and attention to detail mattered,” said Ms. Taylor, who was also impressed by the three students when she met them to present the scholarship. “Their poise and humbleness when they received the scholarship was sweet to witness. I am so proud of these young ladies.”

The Jordan Burns Memorial Scholarship was first given in 2023. The first two recipients to receive the scholarship were Skylar Adams, Middleton High School, and Sadie Fry, Bolivar Central High School. In September 2023, the The Jordan Burns Memorial Scholarship became available for Huntingdon High School seniors to apply.

Caitlyn Clark will attend the University of Mississippi/Ole Miss to study pharmacy.

Madison Doyle will attend the University of Tennessee at Martin to study nursing.

Caitlyn and Madison are both valedictorians and Top 10 students at their high schools.

Applications for the 2025 scholarship may be picked up in the counselors office at those schools once the 2024/2025 school year begins.

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