Arkansas Community Foundation Announces Availability of Arkansas Service Memorial Scholarships

The Three Cheerleaders Scholarship Fund honors Tayloré Hall, Alicia Rix and Jae Lynn Russell, cheerleaders for Sylvan Hills and Northside High Schools, who were killed in 2004 at the intersection of Highway 5 and 89 in Cabot, now known by local residents as “Angel’s Crossing.”

Tayloré Hall

Tayloré was great at sports and ran circles around the boys.  She was as fearless as they come, yet gentle as a butterfly.  She played softball, basketball, soccer and volleyball and was good at all of them.  If she made it her goal to succeed at sports or in her studies, she didn't give up.  She also had a kind heart for people and a way to make people happy.  She thought everyone needed someone.  She became a strong follower of Christ, and she always lived life to the fullest. Mallory Kyzer, Taylore’s mom, says her daughter would be so honored to have the scholarship fund make a difference in people’s lives just as she loved to do while here on earth.  She adds, “the loss of

Taylore' has really made us and others realize that life is too short to take for granted and that each moment spent with a loved one is an important one.  The scholarship named in her honor has been an inspiration.  I feel like she will always live on and there will be people in school because of it, and she will have been a part of their success.”

Alicia Rix

Alicia, a junior at Sylvan Hills High School, was a sweet girl who was loved by many people.  She was an honest and modest young Christian lady who wanted to make certain everyone had a "good day".  When she walked into a room, everyone noticed her smile and positive attitude.  She loved sports and was an avid Razorback fan.  She was applying for a soccer scholarship and a cheerleading scholarship at U of A.  There was no doubt Alicia would have been a Razorback Star! Alicia’s mom, Nicki Rix says, “Alicia kept us so busy with cheerleading, soccer, softball, and college dreams.  But after the accident, all of those things came to a sudden and complete stop.

Building this scholarship in Alicia's honor, has given us something of her to fill those lonely days.  So now instead of going to watch her cheer on Friday nights, we fill that time (Alicia's time) with addressing envelopes to new people we have met and writing thank you cards to those who are generously giving to her memorial fund.  Alicia has taught us the very thing we felt was important for her to understand as a Christian, ‘There is always comfort in giving’.”

Jae Lynn Russell By Becky Russell Jae Lynn never failed to captivate those who knew and loved her.  At an early age, it became apparent that she possessed a vivid imagination and an unquenchable curiosity.  As she grew and developed into a beautiful teenager, those qualities in her personality remained and were a source of frequent amusement for her family and friends.  Jae Lynn was a typical teen and an intensely free-spirited individual.  She worked hard at the sport of cheerleading and she gained a great deal of self-confidence

as her skills improved.  One of her greatest loves of the sport wasthat she was always surrounded by people with the same interest.  Jae Lynn’s mom, Becky says, “There are no words to express the loss and sadness we feel with her absence.  I feel like the whole world should miss her and it does not seem possible that it continues to move on without her.  The work with the scholarship is my way of keeping Jae Lynn with us.  And if someday I see one of our scholarship winners have a successful life, I will say, ‘Way to go, Jae Lynn!  You had something to do with that!’” As profound as the sadness of these parents and other family members, they have found that working together, forming a fund in their daughters’ names and reaching out to other young people has helped them deal with their grief.  It is a testament to the goodness, warmth and talent of these girls that not only their parents, but friends, neighbors, co-workers, fellow students and even strangers are contributing money to build the funds that honor them and pave the way for other young people to fulfill their college dreams.