Townes Receives McLean-Pedersen Scholarship

PARIS (July 10) — McKenzie High School graduate Carlton Townes is the recipient of the 2026 McLean-Pedersen Endowment Scholarship, the Paris and Henry County Healthcare Foundation recently announced.

The McLean-Pedersen Endowment Scholarship was created to support McKenzie High School graduates who pursue careers in the healthcare field. The scholarship totals $6,000, distributed over four years at $1,500 per year. Eligible fields of study include nursing, radiology, paramedic training, physical therapy technology and respiratory technology.

Townes will attend the University of Tennessee at Martin in the fall, where he plans to obtain a degree in Nursing. His long-term goal is to become a Certified Nurse Midwife.

Townes was selected based on his academic excellence, strong character and desire to make a difference through a career in healthcare. His dedication to helping others and his commitment to his future goals made him an ideal recipient of this award, according to the Paris and Henry County Healthcare Foundation.

To remain eligible for the scholarship, recipients must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.75 throughout their college career, ensuring continued focus and academic success.

Jennifer Culpepper, president of Paris and Henry Healthcare Foundation, said, "We are happy to be able to continue the tradition of providing scholarships to students who are pursuing careers in the medical field. We hope to see these bright young minds bring their skills back home to care for patients in our community in the future."