Mathis Scholarship Endowed

Bettye Boutwell of Wesson recently endowed the Lauri Alison Boutwell Mathis Memorial Scholarship with the Co-Lin Foundation. The scholarship was established in memory of Boutwell’s daughter, Alison, who passed away on July 29, 2017 after a brief illness. Mathis was a 1996 graduate of the associate degree nursing program at Co-Lin where she was also an honor student. She later graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi. Mathis was an employee of Hardy Wilson Hospital and Copiah County Medical Center for 19 years as a staff nurse, director of surgery and L&D services, medical-surgical nurse manager, emergency coordinator, and Chief Nursing Officer.

Mathis enjoyed being a wife to Christopher Michael Mathis and mother to Katherine Blair Mathis. She was also a member of Beauregard United Methodist Church. A friend described her as someone who “was always smiling and always a leader. She always had an encouraging word to give.”

Mathis’ parents were also Co-Lin graduates. Her mother, Bettye Boutwell was a 1959 graduate and served as head Colette. Her father, William Boutwell, class of 1958, was a member of the football team.

“We’re so grateful to the Boutwell family for their generous gift in establishing this scholarship in Alison’s memory,” Angela Furr, interim executive director of the Foundation said. “The impact of this scholarship and Alison’s legacy will live on for many years.”

The scholarship was first awarded this fall to a deserving second-year Associate Degree Nursing student. Applications for the 2019 scholarship award are available at www.colin.edu or in the financial aid office and are due by March 1, 2019.

Contributions to the Lauri Alison Boutwell Mathis Memorial Scholarship may be sent to the Co-Lin Foundation, P.O. Box 649, Wesson, MS 39191.

CUTLINE: Bettye Boutwell of Wesson (left) recently endowed the Lauri Alison Boutwell Mathis Memorial Scholarship with the Co-Lin Foundation. Also pictured is Angela Furr, Interim Executive Director of the Co-Lin Foundation.