News

Lee University freshman nursing major Kayla Beckler has been named the first Tucker Scholar in Nursing.

Beckler, daughter of Tommy and Diane Beckler and recent graduate of Walker Valley High School, is a resident of Cleveland and member of First Baptist Church of Cleveland.

While at Walker Valley, Kayla served extensively in programs such as Christmas Memories and Vacation Bible School at First Baptist. She also served as a teacher’s aide at the elementary school level and taught children to play tennis at the Cleveland Country Club. She received the Red Cord of Courage for donating blood six times during high school.

In high school, Beckler played basketball and tennis, participated in Health Occupations Students of America, Circle of Champions, Beta Club, and Tennessee Scholars, and graduated in the top 15 percent of her class.

She currently works as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) for Signature Healthcare and plans to become a nurse practitioner, join the military, or work in a children’s hospital in the future.

The Tucker Foundation founded the endowed Tucker Scholarship at Lee on behalf Mr. and Mrs. S. K. Johnston, Jr., and the primary objective of the foundation is to provide financial support to non-profit organizations to produce in young adults the character and skills required to lead a productive and happy life. They also provide support to organizations that endeavor to conserve our natural environment’s essential elements.

“I’ve been touched by the Johnston family for much of my life,” said Beckler. “My father worked for Johnston Coca-Cola Bottling Company/Coca-Cola Enterprises for 20 years. I am honored in more ways than one to receive this scholarship.”

The Tucker Scholar has previously been a rising senior majoring in the natural sciences or mathematics, but this year, in addition to the Tucker Scholarship for science and math, the Tucker Foundation began a new scholarship for nursing students.

The award will be given to one student per year, and the student must be officially accepted into the School of Nursing at Lee. Candidates must be residents of Cleveland/Bradley County or Chattanooga/Hamilton County. In addition, students must have a demonstrated financial need.

The students are selected by a nursing scholarship committee comprised of nursing faculty, with input from Lee’s Financial Aid Office. Special consideration is given to leadership, service, and other extra-curricular activities. The student will keep the scholarship for the duration of his/her time in the School of Nursing, providing he/she continues to show satisfactory academic progress.

For more information about the Tucker Scholarship in Nursing or about the School of Nursing, contact Dr. Sara Campbell, Dean of the School of Nursing, at (423) 614-8525 or email [email protected].