Scholarship event helps seniors; remembers teen
Smart, athletic, popular and loved by everyone, Beth Livingood left a smile whereever she went and had a bright future ahead of her.
But at the age 19, Beth was taken from this world by a massive heart attack and everyone was left to pick up the pieces in the shattered grief and anger left behind by such a sudden loss.
Beth was an only child, and her mother, Amy Vice, had the same dreams as most parents do for their children; college, a successful career, and even grand children some day.
Four years after Beth’s death, her mother and best friend started as a simple plan to help two Nicholas County graduates pursue their future dreams and created two scholarships in Beth’s name.
A committee of 10 people who knew Beth from church, as a family member or as a friend, was organized to receive applications for the scholarships.
Each application is given to the committee with names and basic information deleted, keeping it a level playing field for all nominees. They are then reviewed and scored based on the committee’s knowledge of what Beth would have done and sent to her mother and friend for final selection. The names of the recipients are not revealed until senior night at the high school.
Their journey began with the production of hair bows that spread into t-shirts and other products that carried the Bows4Beth labeling. It has since grown from a its humble beginnings into a culmination block party with various vendors, live DJ, fish fry, cake walk, silent auction and family fun with the funds going to the scholarships.
While the wind was vicious this past Saturday at Jockey Park it didn’t slow down the vendors and members of Bows4Beth of making the most out of Mother Nature’s attempt to keep them down.
Children with painted faces and wild streaks of color in their hair danced to the music.
Families came out for the amazing food served by the group. Vendors set up to show off their finest with donations of baskets to the silent auction. A party of sorts, one that arose out of tragedy; something Beth herself would have been proud to attend.
To make a contribution visit on Facebook at Bows4Beth.
