The Mountain Laurel Chamber of Commerce has reached out to help youth in the area by honoring Eleanor Morris, a longtime doctor in the community who devoted her life to helping those with more than just medical needs.
During the official kickoff of the scholarship award in Morris' name, the chamber will dedicate its tree for the annual Parade of Trees event to the Eleanor G. Morris Community Service Scholarship.
The tree will be decorated in an assortment of symbols that represented Morris' life and legacy of service to the community.
A honey jar will symbolize the doctor's love for honey and honey bees, and a pumpkin ornament will represent Morris' work to put together an annual Halloween parade.
"Everything we put on the tree has a story," said Marty Hinebaugh, a longtime friend of the doctor and community representative for the scholarship committee.
"Every year, Dr. Morris would organize a Halloween parade that meant so much to the children and this pumpkin will symbolize that," Hinebaugh said.
There will be an ice skate ornament to represent the skates she made available to children in the community, and various animals, tame and wild, that received her nurturing.
There will be ornaments symbolizing the care and treatment she gave to more than 2,000 children at the Well Baby Clinic in Jones Mills.
Scholarship committee chairperson Bernie Barron, of Barron's Landscape and Floral, was happy to see a scholarship started and to have it named after such a dedicated member of the community.
"It's a way to invest in the future of the children of our community and a way to honor the dedication and devotion of Dr. Morris," Barron said.
Hinebaugh said the main criteria for a student to be eligible to receive the scholarship is community service.
"It doesn't matter what the family income is or anything else," Hinebaugh said. "It's strictly for those young people who have chosen to give back through community service."
Students who are eligible for the scholarship must be from Donegal, Donegal Township or Springfield or Saltlick townships and be seniors at Mt. Pleasant Area, Connellsville Area or Champion Christian schools.
Although the primary emphasis will be placed on the applicant's demonstration of community service, other criteria considered will be recommendations, special awards and academic record.
Hinebaugh added there is not a set amount the scholarship will be worth because it will depend on the fund status and how much has been donated by the community.
The scholarship committee will provide the schools with the appropriate information and applications, will evaluate submitted applications, determine recipients and monitor all financial transactions related to the scholarship.
The award will be distributed to the recipient in two installments for two consecutive years as long as the recipient is enrolled on a full-time basis at an institution of higher learning.
The scholarship will be funded by chamber contributions and through donations made by community residents who wish to honor the community service of Morris.
To make a donation to the scholarship fund, mail a check payable to the Eleanor G. Morris Community Service Scholarship to MLCC, P.O. Box 154, Donegal, PA 15628.
