STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
The Knoxville Panther Scholarship Foundation has awarded over one million dollars to Knoxville Senior High graduates since 2004. These scholarships have had a huge impact on the lives of the recipients and their efforts to further their education at colleges, universities and trade schools.
Below are just a few of the stories from the students themselves, sharing how the scholarships have helped them on their journey.
CALEB AND MEGAN MOORE HALL
Caleb and Megan stated, “Purchasing a home in Knoxville was a fitting choice given the support we have received from our family and friends over the years. At just 24 years old, we could only afford our home thanks in part to the generous donors of the Knoxville Panther Scholarship Foundation. We each received scholarships from the Foundation during our four years of post-secondary education. The support of the donors to the Knoxville Panther Scholarship Foundation helped us to graduate debt-free, enabling us to move forward and start our own family.
"One day, we hope to give back to the next generation of students. We hope to help future graduates, whether they choose to enter a trade or pursue higher education, just as the Knoxville Panther Scholarship Foundation supported us. The Foundation’s impact on our lives was truly transformative.”
Caleb and Megan Moore Hall are proud Knoxville Panther graduates, Megan graduated in 2018 and Caleb in 2019. Megan continued her education at Iowa State University, where she majored in Agronomy. She earned her degree in the fall of 2021 and began her career at Eocene Environmental Group as a lead agronomist. In this role, she manages a team dedicated to providing on-farm sustainability reporting for producers across the United States. Her team’s efforts help producers understand their operations, assess risks, and plan for future generations.
Caleb graduated in 2019 and pursued an apprenticeship with Elder Cooperation in Des Moines. In 2022, he completed his apprenticeship and became a journeyman heavy equipment operator. Upon completion of his apprenticeship, Caleb has hired on with Elder Corporation and continues in their employment.
Caleb, the son of Richard and Tracy Hall and Megan, the daughter of Blair and Dolly Moore, were united in marriage on November 16, 2024 and recently purchased their first home in Knoxville.
JAYCE HUGHES
After graduation from Knoxville High School in 2021, I continued my education at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. I will finish in May 2025 with degrees in Biomedical Physics, Music, and Medical Anthropology as well as a Concentration in Research and Scholarship. I have recently accepted an offer to Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis where I will be studying to become a Doctor of Medical Physics in Radiation Oncology, specializing in new cancer therapies/treatments. While studying, I will be working as a clinical medical physicist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
While at Creighton, I have been very involved in research for 4 years. My project titled, "Quantum Dots for Advancing Nanoparticle-Mediated Radiotherapy Against Glioblastoma" seeks to enhance radiotherapy outcomes through local tumor dose enhancement and radiosensitization. I recently have been able to add quantum dots, or nanoparticles, to the clinically relevant treatment for Glioblastoma brain cancer, resulting in the protection of healthy brain tissue and an increase in quality of life. My recent study and clinical trials at Methodist in Omaha have added an additional lifespan up to 2 years for patients diagnosed with 12-15 months to live. I currently have 6 papers and 21 abstracts published in various medical journals as well as being a recent co-author in a biological physics textbook, which will be published throughout the U.S. and Europe.
Along with my individual research, I have previously received a Dr. Randolph Ferlic Research Fellowship through Creighton, which was conducted over the summer (2022). I have previously spoken at conferences throughout Nebraska, and the American Association of Physicists in Medicine National conference in Houston, Texas (2023) and Los Angeles, California (2024). This past summer, I was chosen as one of the top 25 medical physics research students in the country as an undergraduate against fellow undergraduates, masters students, and doctoral students.
I also currently hold positions in an Academic Scholars Society, Co-Director of the Center for Undergraduate Research and Scholarship, President of Creighton's Research Ambassador’s Program, and President of Creighton's Mentoring Program for First Generation Students.
A crucial part of my journey was the Knoxville Panther Scholarship Foundation and community support, which provided the financial support that enabled me to pursue my education and research at the highest level. These scholarships not only alleviated financial stress but also gave me the freedom to dedicate myself fully to advanced research, national conference presentations, and leadership opportunities that have shaped my academic and professional trajectory. Without the generosity of the Knoxville Panther Scholarship Foundation, I may not have had the same opportunities to push the boundaries of cancer research, mentor aspiring students, and pursue my career goal of becoming a medical physicist. The foundation’s investment in my education has had a profound impact, and I am deeply grateful for their role in helping me achieve my goals.
MEGGIE ROCKWOOD
Hello! My name is Meggie Rockwood. I graduated from Knoxville High School in 2019 and recently bought a home here in town. Through my experiences at KHS I realized I wanted to be a teacher, and I set my sights on Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa.
I worked several jobs during high school to help fund my dreams of going to Simpson, including Kone Korner and Stepping Stones Early Learning Center. However, the price of tuition was still a stressor for me. I will forever remember, and be grateful, for the scholarship night put on by the Knoxville Panther Scholarship Foundation. Thanks to the amazing donors, part of the financial burden of college was lifted from my shoulders. I started my collegiate experience at Simpson College in the fall of 2019.
During my time at Simpson, I worked in the business office. I handled student bills, and I regularly saw second, third, and fourth-year students
struggle to adjust to their tuition payments. There simply were not as many scholarships available to them. I was lucky to be a graduate of KHS and received scholarships from the KPSF for all four years at Simpson. While at Simpson I found life-long friends, but I also found a love for special education. In May of 2023, I graduated from Simpson College with my education degree, and I began my search for a special education position.
Your donation to the Knoxville Panther Scholarship Foundation truly makes a difference! Please visit our Donate page to learn how you can contribute to this worthy cause.