Madisonville Community College awarded the first Chris Mefford Memorial Nursing Scholarship during the 2021-2022 academic year. The scholarship endowment was started by Chris' mother, Sandra Aiken, to honor his memory and to recognize outstanding nursing students with a documented financial need.

Chris, who passed away in July of 2019, was a registered nurse and passionate about the healthcare profession and providing excellent care to patients.

"Chris was a caring and compassionate person with a heart for service to others," said Aiken. "His nursing instructors, co-workers, and most of all his patients and their families spoke highly of his happy disposition and dedication to the nursing profession. He received many letters of gratitude for the wonderful care he showed to his patients."

In honor of Chris' legacy of care, potential scholarship applicants will be asked to submit an additional paragraph on why they chose nursing or what inspired them to go to nursing school.

The award can be used for tuition, books, and program costs for 2nd, 3rd, or 4th semester nursing students. The Chris Mefford Memorial Nursing Scholarship in the amount of $1,000 is awarded annually to one MCC nursing student.

Gifts may be made on this website, the college's Advancement website - https://madisonville.kctcs.edu or by mailing a check to Madisonville Community College, c/o MCC Advancement Office, 2000 College Drive, Madisonville, KY 42431

Broward Health Manager had the following to say about Chris:

Chris was a very caring nurse. From the moment we interviewed him for the job, we knew that he was going to be awesome. We never received a complaint from his patients about him. Chris spent a lot of time with his patients every night. He made sure they were comfortable always. He was never too busy to help his co-workers. Sometimes, I would fuss with him for helping and his work not complete, but that was Chris. He would have made a difference in the nursing arena because of his genuine caring affect.

Chris Mefford Memorial Nursing Scholarship

Honor Chris on his birthday, May 31st, with a gift to the scholarship fund created in his memory.