Ione graduates receive McElligott scholarships

Published 5:00 pm Monday, June 26, 2023

IONE — The 2023-24 Maryan L. McElligott Memorial Scholarship program recently awarded $3,000 to four Ione High School alumni.

The recipients, field of study and school: Zoey Gilbert, nuclear and industrial radiologic technologies at Columbia Basin College; Megan Doherty, liberal arts at Oregon State University; Eva Martin, agricultural business at Eastern Oregon University; and Madison Orem, animal sciences and agricultural business at the University of Idaho.

The Maryan L. McElligott Memorial Scholarship fund was established in her memory following her death to cancer. It has made yearly awards to Ione alumni since 1997. The scholarship is open to all college undergraduates, with a preference for students in their sophomore year and above.

An energetic community volunteer — including with American Legion Auxiliary Ione Post 95 and 20 years as a 4-H leader — McEllligott was the 1992 Morrow County Woman of the Year. She and her late husband, L.J. McElligott, who died in March 2020, raised eight children — each graduated from Ione High School as well as college; five received graduate degrees.

Two of her sons, chairman Vince McElligott of Houston, Texas, and Matthew McElligott of North Powder, serve on the scholarship committee. Other committee members include Ione residents Monica Swanson, Linda LaRue and Anne Morter.

All Ione graduates are encouraged to apply. Applicants, including past McElligott scholarship recipients, may reapply each year as long as they meet eligibility requirements.

Applications are available through the Oregon Student Access Commission at www.oregonstudentaid.gov. The 2024-25 OSAC application opens on Nov. 1.