Auburn High School
Beauregard High School
Loachapoka High School
Opelika High School 

Applications for the Five Hundred Dollar Harris Funeral Home Scholarships have been placed with the Guidance Counselor’s office at Auburn High School, Beauregard High School, Loachapoka High School and Opelika High School.

Presented annually by Jeffery Harris since 1999, the scholarship program strives to recognize outstanding high school seniors in area schools. Harris Funeral Home realize the importance of giving back to our community. The scholarship is based on academic achievement, scholastic honors, work experience, community service, goals, and an essay response. Final selections will be made by the HFH Scholarship Selection Committee and will be announced in May 2020. To date over $55,000 have been awarded to different area students.

For more information about the scholarship contact your school’s Guidance Counselor or contact scholarship coordinator, Cornelia V. Johnson by calling 749-6583 or email: cvj515@harrisfuneralopelika.com

As Harris Funeral Home celebrates twenty-six years of providing personal and professional funeral service during a family’s time of need, we continue to salute and assist outstanding students as they maintain their highest standards of conduct and academics. It has been nineteen years since Jeffery Harris decided that giving back to the community is as important as serving during a time of hurt and healing, thus the Harris Funeral Home Memorial Scholarship was established.

“Do what you can, where you are, with what you have” is the philosophy that has made the Harris Funeral Home Memorial Scholarship an annual event. This scholarship program strives to recognize high school seniors in area schools. It is based upon academic and scholastic achievement, work experience, community service and personal goals that are expressed in an essay response.

The Harris Funeral Home Memorial Scholarship is intended to help students reach their educational goals. Each recipient is awarded a scholarship in the amount of $500.00 and it can be applied toward any educational-related cost. Final selections were made by the Harris Funeral Home Scholarship Committee where Cornelia Johnson serves as scholarship coordinator. Other members of the committee are Teresa Smith of Dothan, AL and Harriet Billups of Auburn, AL. To date over $55,000 have been awarded to different area students.

This year’s three recipients of the scholarships are:

Curtis McMillian is a 2019 graduate of Auburn High School. He is the son of Sarah McMillian. His college plans are to attend Savannah College of Art and Design, majoring in Film and Television. He would like a career in Filmmaking and Composing. This talented young man sees himself as someone who is unique and creative, his plans are to use his talents and creativity in his pursuit of a career. After being turned down job after job, he learned that to get what you want, you can never give up. To reach any goal you must be persistent. His philosophy in life is to have Patience, Persistence, and Faith. Having confidence in himself and knowing that his friends like that he is different, helps him continue to grow into the man he will become. With “The Bible” as his favorite book, he understands that tomorrow is not promised, so we should live our best life each day.

Erica Echols graduated from Loachapoka High School in May 2019. She is the daughter of Kendra Ward and Eric Patterson. Her plans are to attend Chattahoochee Valley Community College with a major in Public Safety, with the desire to one day become an Emergency Medical Technician. She describes herself as someone who is hardworking, motivated and determined. Erica believes that for every obstacle, challenge or problem that she has faced, staying true to those qualities have made her the person she is today. A failure in life has taught her, that instead of overthinking a situation, you need to buckle down and do whatever is necessary in order to succeed. Walking across the stage at her graduation and seeing the look on her family’s face was a very proud moment for her. Her friends admire the fact that she is always someone who is helpful and encouraging. A favorite book that she has read, Be Humble, Stay Hungry, Always Hustle, helps her focus on her long-term goals, which are to graduate CVCC and enlist in the Army. Erica would like to further her education in medicine so that she can help people along the way.

Celeste Frazier graduated from Opelika High School in May 2019. She is the daughter of Monica Frazier. She is looking forward to becoming a part of the Alabama State University Family. Although financial circumstances kept her from attending her first choice, Spelman College in Atlanta, GA, the fact that she was accepted, is one of her proudest successes. At ASU she plans to major in Computer Science with a possible career as a System Analyst. Celeste sees herself as someone who is Analytical, Charismatic and Observant. She tries to always listen when others are speaking and think about the situation before responding or acting on it. She has learned though, that you sometimes miss opportunities when you don’t speak up for yourself. Her friends admire the fact that she does not give in to peer pressure and tries to make smart decisions for herself and those around her. Her goal is to be employed with a large corporation with an opportunity to travel. Having the philosophy that “Hard Work Pays Off”, she looks forward to living out her dream.

“Do what you can, where you are, with what you have” is the philosophy that has made the Harris Funeral Home Memorial Scholarship an annual event. This scholarship program strives to recognize high school seniors in area schools. It is based upon academic and scholastic achievement, work experience, community service and personal goals that are expressed in an essay response.

The Harris Funeral Home Memorial Scholarship is intended to help students reach their educational goals. Each recipient is awarded a scholarship in the amount of $500.00 and it can be applied toward any educational-related cost. Final selections were made by the Harris Funeral Home Scholarship Committee where Cornelia Johnson serves as scholarship coordinator. Other members of the committee are Teresa Smith of Dothan, AL and Harriet Billups of Auburn, AL. To date over $53,000 have been awarded to different area students.

This year’s three recipients of the scholarships are:

Cameryn Belyn Smith graduated from Auburn High School in May 2018. She is the daughter of Charles and Sharon Smith. Cameryn is looking forward to her first year at the United States Military Academy where she will be majoring in Kinesiology with a possible career as a Physical Therapist. She sees herself as someone who is optimistic, unique and diverse. With the support of her parents and hard work on her part, Cameryn was determined to not let a speech impediment deter her from her goals in life. This challenge led her to understand you are not limited by a label, there is a miracle inside of yourself and do not let your past predict your future. Her friends like her easy going and caring personality. She enjoys meeting new people because it gives her the opportunity to grow as a person, expand her viewpoint and have compassion for others. Her philosophy in life is, in awkward situations, use laughter because it can fix just about anything.”

Jamias Dontrel Presley graduated from Opelika High School in May, 2018. He is the son of James and LeKeisha Presley. Jamias’ plans are to attend Jacksonville State University where he will major in Exercise Science, with a career in Physical Therapy. He describes himself as someone who is cool, calm and easy to be around. A failure in life has taught him that if you want to be successful you must put the time and effort into making your goal a reality. You can’t get caught up in the “hype” you have to put in the work to make things happen. His friends see him as someone who knows what is best to do in any situation. Jamias’ philosophy is “to live life day by day to the fullest.”

Cory D. Atkinsis a 2018 graduate of Loachapoka High School. He is the son of Debra Atkins and Cutee Atkins. Guardian, Judy Lockhart. His college plans are to study Computer Information Systems at Auburn University/Montgomery with the desire to become an Information Systems Manager. Cory describes himself as someone who is open-minded, witty and friendly. While working on a project at school Cory learned a good life lesson. If you want to be successful, you must put in the time and effort, think about the positive and negative effects it may have and then move forward with the plan. Personal experience has taught him that when you want something, you must constantly work and in due time success will be yours. His friends see him as a peacemaker, with the tendency to look at any situation in a positive way. Living out his philosophy in life, “Don’t Say, Why Me?” say “Try Me!” Cory looks forward to always remain involved with his community.

So, on behalf of Jeffery Harris and Harris Funeral Home we would like to congratulate this year’s recipients and look forward to the next year’s applicants. For more information concerning the Scholarship Program, contact Cornelia Johnson at 334-749-6583 or email hmh515@harrisfuneralopelika.com.