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A Lowndes County student is among recipients of scholarships awarded by the Central Alabama Community Foundation (CACF).

Madison Hardy, a graduate of The Calhoun School, received the Virginia and LaRue Haigler, Sr. Family Foundation Scholarship with an award of $2,500. The scholarship, which may be renewed for three additional years, was presented to Hardy at the school’s honors day program on April 30 by Margaret Davis, one of the Haigler family members who set up the scholarship fund.

Hardy described how the scholarship helps her take the next steps in her higher education journey.

“[The scholarship] helps me so much,” she said. “To be honest, the financial situation with college is really a problem for a lot of people my age. So, to be able to receive a scholarship that comes from such a wonderful family really means a lot to me.”

While at Calhoun, Hardy was captain of the cheer squad, class vice president and a member of the 4-H Tech Change Makers. She was selected as the 2023 Distinguished Young Woman of Lowndes County first runner-up and plans to attend the University of Alabama to major in nursing.

After college, Hardy hopes to give back to her community in the same way the community members have poured into her.

“I definitely hope to come back,” Hardy said. “I love my county. I love where I live, and I love the people in the community. I hope to help them, to help people like me when I’m in a better position to help them reach their goals.

Butler County native Josh Moorer was awarded CACF’s Butler County Scholarship of $900, which may be renewable for three additional years. Burton Crenshaw, CACF president, presented the award at Georgiana School’s senior awards day May 7.

The Georgiana School graduate is a native of the Long Creek community. He was ranked third and served as vice president of the Class of 2024, president of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and Beta Club. He was a Student Government Association (SGA) official, a Lead By Example student, an Achiever Award nominee, a SkillsUSA member and an Alabama Boys State representative.

In addition to these accolades, Moorer was a dual enrollment student at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College and Reid State Community College. He earned more than $150,000 in scholarship awards and plans to major in healthcare while earning his bachelor’s degree.

The CACF scholarship will help Moorer fund higher education costs and also lay the foundation for his future.

“It will help me fund my future and help fund me giving back to my community,” Moorer said. “It provides a way of taking my journey into the healthcare field and then taking care of the people in my community. By receiving this scholarship to help pay for my schooling, I can help make the world a better place through healthcare.”