The Barrums presented a check for $21,308.87 to Bobby K. Marks, Sam Houston State University president, representing proceeds from the Monday Night Artists Group and the annual Robyn Leigh Barrum Memorial Golf Tournament.
The scholarship honors the Barrums' daughter, Robyn, who was a junior at Huntsville High School at the time of her tragic death in a car accident in 1987. The scholarship will go each year to a Huntsville High School graduate who plans to attend or is attending Sam Houston State.
At the time of Robyn's death, a scholarship fund was established with contributions from the Barrum family and friends. The fund continued to grow through the efforts of the artists group and later through the annual fall golf tournament, which is organized and coordinated by Guinn Hugh Murray.
The artists group originally included Trinell Barrum, Grace Bohan, Molly Campbell, Barbara Moore, Loretta Murray, Golda Rich and Sally Turlington, and was later joined by Kathy Wilson Cox. Initially, scholarship recipients were selected by the group and the funds awarded through Huntsville High School.
The first scholarship under university management is expected to be awarded prior to the 1998 Fall Semester. Prior winners have included Stacey Sherrill, Gustavo Lopez, Theresa Goines, Arlita Jefferson, Nesi Lillard, Amy Maxwell, Dana Tomlin and Melanie Beth Clark.
The Barrums said that it is their intent for the scholarship to provide financial assistance to students who are serious in their desire for a college education and who need the assistance, but who may not qualify for scholarships awarded to students based primarily on grades.
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