Meg was 19 years old and a junior at the University of Alabama when she was diagnosed with a brain tumor in August of 2006.
At that time, she was a cheerleader for the White Squad. You get a glimpse of her determination when you realize that 3 weeks after brain surgery, Meg was on the field IN UNIFORM, cheering. She approached all aspects of her life and her battle with cancer with this same determination.
Although she did take off Fall semester of 2006 because she had to relocate to Birmingham for radiation and chemotherapy treatments, she only missed 1 football game that season. For the final game, not only was she in uniform cheering, she was stunting as well bear in mind she had just completed radiation and was still receiving chemotherapy. Meg returned to campus for Spring semester (still undergoing chemo), maintaining her full cheerleading responsibilities, and maintained a 4.0 GPA. She was so inspired by the nursing care that she received, she changed her major from business to nursing. Her goal was to do for other cancer patients what her nurses had done for her.
She was continuing her education during the Summer semester when she was diagnosed with a second brain tumor; this one inoperable. She returned home in July, and began a new rigorous chemotherapy treatment. She continued online classes that Summer and Fall of 2007. Despite her physical deterioration, and another surgery November 1 and several hospitalizations, Meg pursued her education, and she achieved her goal of touring Egypt. She did complete her classes through the Fall semester 2007, and we are proud to say that she was awarded her Honorary Degree for Academic Achievement just shortly before her death February 1, 2008.
While accomplishing these goals is significant in itself, you have to understand that through all this, she always maintained her positive outlook on life, took time to care for others and their well being, and most of all she LIVED her life and pursued her goals. This is a tribute to her character, her faith, and her sheer determination to pursue everything she did with her best efforts.
Making a donation to this scholarship fund will not only pay tribute to a wonderful person with outstanding character, it will allow her legacy to live on. It will allow another academically successful student with drive and perseverance a chance to accomplish his/her educational goals.
When Meg was diagnosed with her first brain tumor in August 2006, the community came together and prayed for Meg. One of Meg's closest friends wrote "Pray for Meg" on her back windshield. In no time, where ever you looked there were" Pray for Meg" signs. Yard signs, painted car windows and banners on buildings all simply worded "Pray for Meg". What no one knew was that while the community was so publicly in prayer for Meg, she was privately praying for all of us.
Meg accomplished much in her short life, but in the "about me" section of her Facebook page, she did not say anything about herself or her accomplishments. She did not mention that she was a 4.0 student, a University of Alabama cheerleader, that she was accepted into the honors program and began classes at UA as a senior in high school or any of her other many accomplishments. What is now known as "Meg's Prayer" is all she wrote:
Father,
I ask You to bless my friends, relatives and those that I care deeply for, who are reading this right now. Show them a new revelation of Your love and power. Holy Spirit, I ask You to minister to their spirit at this very moment. Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy. Where there is self-doubt, release a renewed confidence through Your grace. Where there is need, I ask you to fulfill their needs. Bless their homes and their families.
In your name, Amen.
The Meg Ingram Memorial Scholarship Fund is established in conjunction with the Madison County Chapter of the University of Alabama. At this time we have one scholarship available to be awarded through the University. The criteria are as follows:
Recipient must be a graduate of Huntsville City or Madison County schools (AL), minimum 3.8 GPA. Scholarship is to the University of Alabama Tuscaloosa. Nursing major required
Applications can be submitted through the normal scholarship process through the University of Alabama. When students apply to UA they also can submit a scholarship application. The deadline is December 1 (always check it through the University website in case dates change). Applications will be reviewed. All those meeting the above criteria will be reviewed for consideration during the selection process.
Those who receive the scholarship may reapply each year to continue the scholarship as long as they maintain a 3.0 average at UA and they remain enrolled in the nursing program. Recipients are not guaranteed to receive the scholarship each year, but may reapply each year and be reviewed along with all other candidates meeting the criteria.
Current Recipients...
How to Apply...
How to Donate...
Kristen Tepool Townsley- 2008-Fall 2010 Recipient
The Meg Ingram Memorial Scholarship (Nursing)
Huntsville High School, Class of 2007
Sarah Coggins- 2009-2010 Recipient
The Meg Ingram Memorial Scholarship (Cheerleading)
Virgil I. Grissom High School, Class of 2009
Summer Leigh Beitel- 2010-2011 Recipient
Bob Jones High School, Class of 2011
Jessica A. Fletcher- 2010-2011 Recipient
Huntsville High School, Class of 2011
Meredith B. Averbuch- 2010-2011 Recipient
The Meg Ingram Memorial Community Service Scholarship
Huntsville High School, Class of 2010
Abigail M. Coleman- 2010-2011 Recipient
Virgil I. Grissom High School, Class of 2010
Carter C. Musgrove- 2010-2011 Recipient
Alexa R. Rouse- 2010-2011 Recipient
Christine Michelle Lanford- 2011-2012 Recipient
Hazel Green High School, Class of 2011
Lucy Elizabeth Pylant- 2011-2012 Recipient
Recipient must be a graduate of Huntsville City or Madison County schools (AL), minimum 3.8 GPA. Scholarship is to the University of Alabama Tuscaloosa.
The Community Service Scholarship and the Cheeleader Scholarship are one year scholarships. New recipients will be chosen each year. The Cheerleader Scholarship is awarded through the University of Alabama Athletic Department.
Make checks payable to the University of Alabama
DESIGNATE ‘Meg Ingram’ in the memo section on the check
Mail to:
The University of Alabama
National Alumni Association
Alumni Scholarship Program
Paula B. Jeter
P.O. Box 861928
Tuscaloosa, AL 35486-0017
For more information on the MIMSF or how to donate, please contact us by using the form on this page or the contact information below:
e-mail: lanceingram_comcast.net
Phone: 256-604-8750
or
e-mail: hannajon_comcast.net
Phone: 256-714-8440
