Congratulations Kinley Elderidge!!!

We are excited to annouce the essay winner for the Christian Shane Andreacchio Memorial Scholarship for 2017!!!  We had a difficult time choosing a “winner” from the essays submitted.  There were several who came in a close second and we want to thank all the Seniors who submitted an essay for consideration. We wish we could award a scholarship to everyone but unfortunately we had to choose just one!!

It is on days like today that I wonder what Christian would say if he knew so many people had received assistance of one kind or another due to him. I am sure he would cock his eyebrow up, get that goofy look on his face and say…. “It’s hard work being me but someones gotta do it.” Just like he did on so many other occasions.

So we wish Kinley a great Freshman year at Ole Miss and hope she makes the most of all the opportunities she is presented in college…. both fun as well as academic.  We look forward to seeing you succeed as you start your college career!!  Keep us posted…

            “What lies behind you and what lies in front

                     of you pales in comparison to what

              lies inside of you.     –   Ralph Waldo Emerson

Here is Kinley’s essay:

Kinley Eldridge
10 April 2017

Live Life Large

Learning about the tragic death of Christian Andreacchio made me think about what it means to live. When I was younger, I did not understand death; I thought only elderly people passed away. Now that I am older, I know that tomorrow is not always guaranteed. Because of this truth, I strive to make every day count. Hearing the motto “live life large” for the first time made me recollect the quote, “The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.” Growing up in Meridian, I have always had dreams of escaping the small town life and doing something big with my own. As a child, I dreamed of exploring jungles, fighting crime, and even singing to sold-out audiences. Now, my dreams have changed.

A few years ago, during my sophomore year, I signed up for a mission trip to Guatemala. This journey changed my life. During the trip, I was blessed with the opportunity to feed impoverished villagers. As I looked at the bags full of bland rice, stale bread, and what looked like unsanitary water, I became overwhelmingly sad. These food bags were like a Thanksgiving feast for the poor villagers. The best part of my trip was being able to help with a baby rescue mission. Although I was not allowed to hike up the mountain to rescue Henry, I was allowed to help the nurses and other doctors clean him, take measurements, check for injuries, and change his clothes. Knowing that I had helped change someone’s life was amazing. I wanted never to let this feeling go. I came to the conclusion that I wanted to help people not only on this mission trip, but every day for the rest of my life. Because of this revelation, I decided I wanted to be a nurse practitioner. I plan to live my life large by helping other lives in Meridian, and around the world.

To start my adventure, I will attend my dream school, the University of Mississippi. Ever since I was a little girl, I have dreamed of going to Ole Miss. I was taught all of the chants by the time I was five. By the time I had turned eight, my best friend and I had already decided what our dorm room would look like. Now that it is time for college, I am proud to say that I will be fulfilling my childhood dream. Wanting to take full advantage of all that college life has to offer, I plan to join a sorority, the Baptist Student Union, and other organizations that are fun and beneficial. After studying to become a nurse, I want to complete my degree as a nurse practitioner. With this degree, I can heal people wherever I go. I will be able to travel all over the world and help those in need.

The joy that traveling to a foreign city or country brings me is indescribable. A few years ago, when I got my first passport, I promised myself that by the time I turned twenty-one I would have filled the whole passport with stamps from different countries. I intend to do just that. From taking pictures in front of the Eiffel Tower to walking on the Great Wall of China, I plan to explore the world and use my degree to heal people from country to country.

The motto “Live Life Large” is a reminder to seek out opportunities and to take advantage of all that life has to offer. Life is a precious gift, yet most people do not appreciate it. Because life is fleeting, we need to take full advantage of it; I certainly intend to.

I want to be able to say, “ I lived my life large.”