Jessica King Memorial Scholarship in Occupational Therapy Fund

Jessica King was a second year graduate student in the Occupational Therapy Program with a keen interest in older adults.  A friend to all her classmates and faculty members, it was a loss to everyone when Jessica passed away suddenly on August 29, 2005 at the age of 26.  In order to carry on her wish to improve the lives of older adults, friends, family, and faculty members  have worked with Jessica’s mother, Linda King, and Jessica’s sister, Jennifer, to establish a scholarship fund.

The fund will provide scholarship support for students enrolled in the Department of Occupational Therapy at East Carolina and who are pursuing occupational therapy careers in gerontology.

Caroline Fountain, 2010 – 2011 Recipient of the Jessica King Memorial Scholarship.

Caroline Fountain is a second year occupational therapy graduate student selected by the Scholarship committee to receive the award for the academic year 2010-2011.  Caroline discussed her love of working with older adults in her application.  Even before deciding to pursue occupational therapy, Caroline knew she would work in gerontology and volunteered at several settings.   Once admitted to the program, Caroline decided to take a more challenging role by selecting a thesis project based using a survey to determine why individuals volunteer with other adults on the Matter of Balance fear of falling program. Caroline will complete two clinical fieldwork experiences and graduate December 2011. 

Linda King personally told Caroline she had gotten the scholarship just a few months before her death from cancer.  We join Caroline in thanking Linda for her generosity of herself and family for this scholarship and all the others that will continue from the memorial fund.

Sharon "Beth" Faircloth, 2009-2010 Recipient with Linda King

Beth Faircloth, a second year occupational therapy graduate student, was selected by the Scholarship committee to receive the award for the academic year 2009-2010.  In her application, Beth discussed her love of working with older adults.  Her wish to become an occupational therapist stemmed from her personal experience with adaptation of the home when her father needed such services.  The desire to work with older adults was then solidified when her beloved grandmother began to suffer from the devastating effects of Alzheimer's disease.  Beth has demonstrated her skill to communicate with older adults in her volunteer work with Carfit and as a participant at the Myositis Conference in which she assisted with three presentations for older adults.

After being notified by Linda King, Jessica's mother, Beth and faculty member Anne Dickerson visited Mrs. King at her home near Asheboro, North Carolina. Both Beth and Linda found that they shared much in common around Jessica and promised to keep in touch. 

Pictured above:  Linda King and Beth Faircloth

Megan Lucas
2008-2009 Recipient

Corinne Burns
2007-2008 Recipient