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The Trojan Army Alumni Association gifted six students with scholarships to help them further their education.

The Association was established in 2009 directed by a board of community leaders, alumni, and parents.

Its responsibilities include: raising funds to support Morristown-Hamblen West High School in its endeavors, maintain a Hall of Fame dedicated to promoting our heritage, provide school spirit, loyalty and fellowship among alumni, students, and faculty and fund scholarships for students to accomplish these responsibilities.

The organization relies on donations from alumni and parents to succeed in its mission.

As the association has evolved over the years, it has established scholarships in honor of the school’s supporters.

One of West high’s most enthusiastic supporters, Walter Coffey, passed away in December 2020.

A scholarship was created in his memory for a student who shows the support and spirit of West High that Walter did. Faculty and coaches nominate students who are examples of Walter’s unending enthusiasm.

This year’s recipient of the $500 Walter Coffey Memorial Spirit Award is Lexi Shepard.

At its inception, the Trojan Army established a scholarship to award each year to a student or students who represent our school and community.

The scholarship is based primarily on the recipient’s contributions to West high School during their four years of attendance. It is the board’s hope that this scholarship will help each recipient with their expenses of attending post-secondary education.

The Trojan Army has been awarding two $1000 scholarships annually. This year, the board voted unanimously to award four $1000 scholarships as the applications were highly competitive.

This year’s recipients of $1000 each from the Trojan Army are: Caleb King, James Rosen II, Lauren Gray, and Gracie Bunch.

In addition to the Walter Coffey and Trojan Army scholarships, a memorial scholarship was created in memory of Coach Saulsbury who passed away in November 2020.

Coach Saulsbury was a member of the Trojan Army Board. He valued performance in the classroom as well as on the playing field. He encouraged students and players to pursue their dreams through education while serving as a lifelong mentor instilling valuable life lessons. Coach Saulsbury was a respected educator, winning coach, and treasured friend.

The Trojan Army now has an annual Coach Buddy Saulsbury Memorial Golf Tournament that is held in the fall as a primary fundraiser. With a generous gift from Coach Saulsbury’s family, the Trojan Army is honored to be able to offer one of the largest private scholarships at West High in the amount of $5000.

This year’s recipient of the Coach Buddy Saulsbury Memorial $5000 scholarship is John Statzer.

Statzer’s academic performance, commitment to his family, and his determination to rise above his personal challenges make him an excellent representative of all that Coach Saulsbury stood for and loved about his service as an educator and coach.