Murphy Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Program
The Murphy Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Foundation was incorporated in June 2006 as a 501C3 Non-profit Corporation. In 2005 and 2006, the Chamber itself awarded scholarships before forming the Foundation. In 2005-2007, $2000 was awarded annually, $1000 each to outstanding Murphy resident Plano ISD and Wylie ISD graduates. In 2008, the awards were increased to $1500 each, and for 2009, both the number of awards and total funds awarded were increased!
Jon Lashbrook has been Foundation Chairman since it's inception. Jon says, "Of all the terrific things our little Chamber does, I am most proud of the Scholarship Foundation and it's work. I never dreamed when I was drawing up the Incorporation papers in early 2006 that we could be where we are now in 2009. We have flourished because of a lot of hard work from our core group--2008 Chamber Legacy Award winner Bob Russell, WISD's TJ Theisen and PISD's Nancy Long, former Chamber Chairman Lonnie Long and myself. We have been blessed to have had lots of small donations from the Chamber membership and a few larger corporate sponsors. We have raised money in the past via monthly auctions of donated items, the annual golf tournament and a Silent Auction at the January 2009 Dinner and Dice event. The Chamber itself has been the single biggest donor, but I would also recognize Murphy Walmart, Baibrook McDonalds, AMG Photography and State Farm for their generosity. In order for us to continue to expand our offerings, we need more of the business community and even private citizens to get on board and donate. We have an idea for a 5th scholarship, but we need the dollars to support it, not just for the first year, but moving forward as well."
Lashbrook said that if anyone had any questions, donations or suggestions, they should contact him at his State Farm Agency in Murphy.
2009 Scholarship Recipiants are:
From Plano East Senior High: Lucas Holt - $1500 and Jarrod Penn $1000.
From Wylie High School: Eli Robb - $1500 and Rachel Helfrich - $1000.
| Year |
Wylie ISD
|
Plano ISD
|
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Michael Dunn | Casey Anderson |
| 2006 | Michael Burcham | Sarah Hodge |
| 2007 | Analise Chatterpaul | Chris Shook |
| 2008 | Julia Castro | Deborah Odiase |
