Three Nursing Students Win Chris Waller Memorial Scholarship
Three College of the Ozarks graduates just earned scholarships to continue their healthcare education, thanks to a 16-year legacy honoring an exceptional student and athlete. The awards support promising students pursuing advanced degrees in nursing, physician assistant studies, and dentistry.
Three graduates from College of the Ozarks in Missouri are heading to graduate school with scholarships named after a student who embodied academic excellence and character.
Lillyanne McCool, Emma McIntire, and Tyas Rush received the Chris Waller Memorial Scholarship this year. The award has helped students pursue advanced degrees for 16 years, funded by an endowment established by Al and Marty Waller in memory of their son.
McCool, from Mountain View, Arkansas, worked in the campus clinic during her nursing studies. She's now pursuing a master's degree in nursing science at the University of Arkansas.
McIntire worked in the athletic training room while majoring in Allied Health Science. The Adrian, Missouri native is heading to Drury University to become a physician assistant.
Rush balanced his human and molecular biology studies with work in the baseball office. He'll continue his education at the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry.
Chris Waller graduated from College of the Ozarks in 2001 as a mathematics major and standout basketball player. He earned all-conference honors and became an NAIA Academic All-American before studying civil engineering at the University of Arkansas.
His father, Al Waller, coached basketball at the college for 25 years, racking up 458 wins and twelve conference championships. His mother, Marty Waller, coached the cheer team for 27 years and helped make it one of the nation's top small college programs. She passed away in February 2025.
The Ripple Effect
The scholarship does more than cover tuition. It connects deserving students to a legacy of excellence while supporting the next generation of healthcare professionals.
McIntire said receiving the award reminds her that others believe in her future and trust the work she's put into her education. Rush called being selected "deeply humbling" at a school filled with hardworking students.
Three more students are now carrying forward a family's tribute to their son while building careers dedicated to helping others.
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Based on reporting by Google News - Scholarship Awarded
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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