Katie Lovelace Memorial Scholarship

1987 - 2000

As a fitting tribute to Katie’s life, the Lovelace family established the Katie Lovelace Enrichment Fund. Since 2001, the Lovelace family, in collaboration with the Pleasant Hill Education Foundation, has provided funding for students to participate in music, athletics, and art programs. Additionally, the Lovelace family started the Katie Lovelace Memorial Scholarships.

Two memorial scholarships in the amount of $1,500 will be awarded to honor the example Katie gave to all of us. These scholarships will be used to support the life goals of two fellow Pleasant Hill Billies.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

These scholarships are for Pleasant Hill High School seniors planning to attend a trade or vocational school starting the fall immediately after graduation.

HOW DO I APPLY?

1. Scholarship Application Form

2. Transcript (the Board will reach out to Clarrissa Anderson in the High School Counseling Office to obtain a copy of your transcript)

3. OSAC Activities Chart or List of Work History.

4. Answer the following questions?

  • Why did you choose this Trade/Vocational School?

  • What are your career goals?

  • What are you most excited about in the trade you have chosen?

5. Letter of recommendation from a coach, teacher, advisor, mentor, or boss.

WHEN ARE APPLICATIONS DUE?

Completed items above should be emailed in one PDF to amckee@phillfoundation.org by May 3rd, 2024.

WHAT CRITERIA IS USED TO SELECT A WINNER?

These scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis based on the following score weighting used by the scholarship selection committee and board:

  • 85% - Question Answers

  • 15% - Extracurricular activities and/or work experience

WHEN WILL NOTIFICATIONS TAKE PLACE?

The Pleasant Hill Education Foundation scholarship selection committee and board will review the applications in May. Candidates will be chosen and notification will be given to the Pleasant Hill High School Principal and Counselor. The scholarship recipient will be announced at the Awards Night in June or via email.

QUESTIONS?

Email amckee@phillfoundation.org or call 541-736-0759.

Remembering Katie

The Katie Lovelace Memorial Scholarship Fund is established to honor Katie and her character. Katie lived in Pleasant Hill all her life. She attended Mrs Lebrun's Childhood Development class at age four, on to Trent, then the new elementary and was looking forward to Middle School when she was killed by a drunken driver near her home.

Katie loved people. She loved God. She handmade and colored a border that she put around her room ceiling. The border said “WWJD” (What would Jesus Do?) then the words: “Forgiveness, Kindness, Love.” We told each other every day that we loved each other.

Katie came home one day and told me she was going to get a bus referral because she got up from her seat to stop an older boy from bullying a younger boy. That was Katie! She believed in right and wrong, and she would defend when needed.

Katie loved her family, her friends, and playing sports. Soccer was her favorite sport and she excelled at it. She loved school but grumbled at times about having to get up. She played piano and took lessons for three years from the school band teacher's wife. When I gave Katie the choice to continue or not at eleven, I was surprised that she made the choice to continue. Katie wanted to excel as much as possible. She had an incredible can-do attitude.

Katie looked forward to what life had to offer. Katie dreamed of playing in World Cup soccer. Another time she came home and told me "I want to be a doctor."

She was funny kid who loved to laugh and dance. She was a cute, polite girl with a drive to do good in everything. She was a leader, a volunteer and a worker. She loved being part of everything—including learning to drive our combine.

That drive, desire, dream that Katie had, that is what this scholarship is about. Katie encouraged kids to step forward, do the work, go for their dream, no matter what hindrances they face.

Katie knew you had to have faith in yourself; to expect and plan for failures and to keep going having learned from those experiences.

–Janet Lovelace