Kerri D. Efird Memorial Scholarship Page

Welcome Everyone

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT TO THE 12TH KERRI D EFIRD MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP BIKE RUN - ONCE AGAIN WE WERE BLESSED BY THE TURNOUT AND ALSO WITH THE WEATHER...WE HAD 190 BIKES AND RAISED $11,510.....WE HAD A SAFE TRIP AND A GREAT TIME WAS HAD BY ALL!!!.PICTURES HAVE BEEN POSTED  ALONG WITH LINK TO WEBSITE OF THE PHOTOGRAPHER... THANKS TO OUR FAMILY & FRIENDS FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT  - WE COULD NOT ACCOMPLISH THIS WITHOUT YOU!

2010 Scholarship Winners Shown Below!!!!!!!

SCOTT & TRACY EFIRD

As promised...link to the website for the pictures taken by Tammy King - along with instructions for ordering ...pictures on this website were taken by my friends & family.

www.its-a-snap-photography.smugmug.com

Thanks for visiting the Kerri D Efird Memorial Scholarship Website!!!

2010 Kerri D Efird Memorial Scholarship Winners

We proudly awarded five - $1000. Scholarships to five very special graduating Seniors on Thursday Night, June 3, 2010 @ West Stanly Academic & Scholarship Ceremony @ Oakboro First Baptist Church. It was a blessing and an honor to be a part of this wonderful ceremony- this brings the total awarded for the life of the Scholarship  to West Stanly Seniors from 1999-2010 to $48,000!!!

We usually award four $1000. Scholarships, but as West Stanly loss another student all to soon and tragically this year, Kyle Allen, the family, whom are very dear friends of ours, directed Memorials in Kyle's memory to the Kerri D. Efird Memorial Scholarship of which we were very touched and we awarded one in Kyle's Memory.

WINNERS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

Tucker Ray Whitley, Son of Marty & Lynda Whitley of Oakboro, NC - Tucker plans are to attend Wake Forest University and to major in the Medical Field

Hollie Terron Sells, Daughter of Terry & Sharon Sells of Albemarle, NC - Hollie plans to attend Stanly Community College and to major in the Medical Field

Samantha Hatley, Daughter of Dana & Valerie Hatley of Stanfield, NC - Samantha plans to attend NC State University and to major in Animal Science

Kasey Huneycutt, Daughter of Rodney & Karen Huneycutt of Oakboro, NC - Kasey plans to attend CPCC/or Stanly Community College and to major in Athletic Training & Physical Therapy

Molly Mullis, Daughter of Rick & Tammy Mullis of Stanfield, NC - Molly plans to attend Wingate University and to major in  Education & Religious Studies.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:

TRACY EFIRD, MOLLY MULLIS, TUCKER WHITLEY, KASEY HUNEYCUTT, HOLLIE SELLS, SCOTT EFIRD(NOT PICTURED-SAMANTHA HATLEY)

The Kerri D Efird Memorial Scholarship was established to carry on the memory of a special person whose life was short, but in her 18 years accomplished more than most of us will in a lifetime.

Our daughter, Kerri, passed away on 2/21/1999 at the age of 18. Kerri had cystic fibrosis & at the age of 16 was placed on the transplant list for lungs. She received a new set on May 10, 1997 -Mother's Day.

After transplant Kerri was in the hospital for 11 weeks at Duke Medical Center and then in rehab for 5 weeks.
We came home in Aug of 97 - 1 week after school had started where she was a Junior at West - there were many complications after the transplant but Kerri who was a dedicated member of The West Stanly Players, continued to go to school & keep up with her class.

Kerri soon had to go on homebound due to monthly hospitalizations, but at this point in her Senior Yr, she
had ample requirements for graduation and started to take on-line courses w/ Stanly Comm College.

Kerri did not walk across the stage at graduation w/ her
class of 1999, but in spirit she was there when her name was called & was recognized for her academic achievements against all odds presented before her.

Kerri’s life made such an impression that the KDE Memorial Scholarship was established. In the year of 2000 we formally incorporated and became a 501(c)3 non profit organization- See Information page below for the full history of the Scholarship.

Kerri relied on her faith in God, family, & friends to carry her through her worst times.

The rest is a testament to Kerri’s life - thru  June 3, 2010, we have awarded $48,000 to graduating seniors at West Stanly High School.

As you can see, Kerri was a very brave and determined young lady that constantly made her Dad, Scott & myself so very proud to be her parents.

With the support of family & friends now, we strive to carry on her memory & undying spirit.

12TH ANNUAL KERRI D. EFIRD MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP BIKE RUN PICS!!!

Kerri's Senior Prom Picture

Kerri & Scottie - December 25, 1997

EVER WONDER ABOUT THE KERRI POOH SHIRT?

THE KERRI D EFIRD MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP BIKE RUN HAS HAD A SHIRT EVERY YEAR SINCE THE ORIGINATION OF THE RIDE.  THE FIRST YEAR’S RIDE SHIRT WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT DID NOT HAVE THE KERRI POOH DESIGN ON IT.  THE KERRI POOH DESIGN CAME FROM THE BACK OF KERRI’S OWN MOTORCYCLE HELMET.  KERRI WAS CALLED KERRI POOH WHEN SHE WAS JUST A BABY.  KERRI BEING CALLED THAT WAS DESTINED TO LOVE POOH…BECAUSE SHE FOR SURE WAS A POOH-LOVER.  A FRIEND OF OURS, TERRY FAULKNER, PAINTED KERRI’S HELMET FOR HER FOR A CHRISTMAS PRESENT.  KERRI WORE IT WHEN SHE RODE UNTIL THE TIME THAT SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO RIDE WITH US. 

 THE KERRI POOH IS JUST ONE SYMBOL ON THE KERRI POOH SHIRT.  HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED ALL THE FROGS ON THE SHIRT?...KERRI LOVED FROGS…SHE SAID THAT IF YOU COULD LOVE A FROG YOU CAN LOVE ANYTHING…AND SHE DID JUST THAT…SHE HAD THE LOVE IN HER HEART FOR ALL INCLUDING FROGS - SO THAT EXPLAINS WHY THERE ARE FROGS ON THE SHIRT…IF YOU COUNT THEM, THERE IS ONE FROG FOR EACH YEAR OF THE RIDE. 

ON THE SHIRT THERE IS ALWAYS A REFERENCE TO WEST STANLY HIGH SCHOOL, WHETHER IT BE WITH THE SIMILAR DRAWING OF THE SCHOOL, THE SIGN OF THE SCHOOL OR SIMPLY  KERRI POOH WITH A DOO-RAG ON WITH THE LETTER WSHS ON IT AND THE SCHOOL COLORS, THE REFERENCE TO WEST STANLY IS ALWAYS ON THERE IN SOME MANNER AS THIS WAS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF KERRI'S LIFE - SHE LOVED GOING TO SCHOOL AND BEING A PART OF THE WEST STANLY PLAYERS.  MOST OF THE YEARS PAST, WE HAVE TRIED TO TIE IN TO THE SHIRT EVENTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE PAST YEAR, SUCH AS WITH THE 2009 SHIRT WE WERE PATRIOTIC AS IN THE YEAR PRIOR TO THAT WAS THE ELECTION.  AS PROMISED THE 2010 T SHIRT HAD 12 FROGS...ALONG WITH KERRIPOOH BEAR WITH AN ATTITUDE!!!..HE ALSO WAS SPORTING A WEST STANLY TRIBAL BAND AROUND HIS ARM...AND THE SPONSORS ON THE BACK OF THE SHIRT GREEN AND BLACK...WE HAD A LOT OF COMPLIMENTS ON THE SHIRT AGAIN THIS YEAR!

BUT WE COULD NOT DO ALL OF THIS WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF OUR SPONSORS ON THE BACK OF THE SHIRT. WE HAVE  FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT EACH YEAR SUPPORT US BY BEING SPONSORS – WE ALSO HAVE SEVERAL “COURTESY” ADS…SUCH AS IN MEMORY OF A DEAR FRIEND , MICHELE HELMS.  WE ALSO HAVE ONE FOR MY DADDY, IN MEMORY OF CECIL FURR,  AND IN MEMORY OF AMY TAYLOR HARVELL, KERRI’S DEAR FRIEND WHO PASSED AWAY DUE TO CYSTIC FIBROSIS ALSO. 

IMAGINE IF YOU CAN, THE PRIDE THAT YOU FEEL FROM THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF YOUR CHILD, AND KNOW THAT THIS IS THE PRIDE THAT WE FEEL, WHEN WE SEE THE KERRI RIDE SHIRTS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY BEING WORN.  WE HOPE YOU ENJOY THE SHIRTS AND THE HISTORY OF THEM, AS MUCH AS WE DO IN SHARING THEM WITH YOU.