Shanon Wright & Lynette Theftford Scholarship

The scholarship you are receiving was endowed in 1998 in memory of ASU alumna Shannon Williams Wright and in honor of ASU alumna Lynette Sullins Thetford. The two teachers at Westside Middle School displayed true bravery, Mrs. Wright giving her life, during the Westside Middle School tragedy of March 24, 1998, which in addition to Mrs. Wright, resulted in the untimely death of four middle school girls.
The scholarship was made possible by gifts from Mrs. Jill Jernigan of J. Christopher Toys in Jonesboro, her husband, Mr. Richard Jernigan of Doric of Northeast Arkansas and through the efforts of Pressly Partnership Productions, parent company of Triple FM Radio Group, FOX 104.9, Z-100 and MIX 106.7 radio stations. Mr. Trey Stafford of PPP noted at the time, “Our contributions to this fund are being made on behalf of the thousands of people who bought tickets” for two benefit concerts held following the tragedy, one a performance by Country Artist Tracy Lawrence and the other by Rock/Blues artist Kenny Wayne Shepard.
Mrs. Jernigan, who noted Mrs. Wright was a customer of her, said she and her husband wanted to help establish the scholarship endowment following the Westside incident.