PAUL H CAMP

Savannah State's Jaden Saunders (middle left) and Jaeda Austin (middle right) pose with Anna DeLoach (left) and Jimmy DeLoach, Jr. (right) after receiving scholarships from the Abbie DeLoach Foundation at the 7th annual luncheon on April 14, 2023. [Photo by Paul Camp]

Media Relations 4/21/2023 11:34:00 AM

Sanders, Austin Awarded Scholarships From Abbie DeLoach Foundation

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Savannah State student-athletes Jaden Saunders and Jaeda Austin were awarded scholarships from the Abbie DeLoach Foundation (ADF) at the 7th annual scholarship class luncheon on April 14 at Savannah Golf Club.

Saunders, a sophomore on the men's golf team, and Austin, a freshman on the women's volleyball team, were part of 17 students and organizations from the Savannah area that received scholarships this year.

The event celebrated recipients' academic excellence, exemplary service work or athletic commitment, according to a press release from ADF. To date, 106 recipients have received an ADF scholarship including 12 Savannah State student-athletes.

A sold-out audience of recipients, families, friends, coaches and community leaders heard from guest speaker Dr. Sherry Danello, MSN, NEA-BC, vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer at St. Joseph/Candler Health System, about the state of Georgia's health care workforce.

Also in attendance were Savannah Mayor Van Johnson, Chatham County Sheriff John Wilcher, Savannah Chatham-County Public School System (SCCPSS) Superintendent Dr. M. Ann Levett, Ed.D., and SCPSS Board President Roger Moss.

Jimmy DeLoach Jr., Abbie's father and Abbie DeLoach Foundation president, addressed the scholarship recipients. He invited them to stand and be the focus in the room as he spoke about the award and leadership.

"From this point on, in everything you do, you will be talked about because you are out in front," said DeLoach. "You are the ones setting the pace, and the footprint that other people will follow."

He also spoke about the importance of education. "As I told my daughters, education is a ticket on the bus. No one will tell you what to do with life because you have this ticket that enables you to do what you want to do, but the ticket comes with responsibility."

Jaeda Austin (left) accepts a scholarship from the Abbie DeLoach Foundation, presented by Jimmy DeLoach, Jr. (middle) with Savannah State Head Volleyball Coach Roselidah Obunaga (right) at the 7th annual luncheon on April 14. [Photo by Paul Camp]

Jaden Saunders (middle) accepts a scholarship from the Abbie DeLoach Foundation at the 7th annual luncheon on April 14, 2023 from Jimmy DeLoach, Jr. (left), alongside Head Golf Coach Christopher Miller (right). [Photo by Paul Camp]

About the Abbie DeLoach Foundation
The Abbie DeLoach Foundation (ADF) is named for Savannah, Georgia, native Abbie DeLoach, who was one of five Georgia Southern University nursing students tragically killed in a tractor-trailer collision on April 22, 2015. ADF was founded by Abbie's father, Jimmy DeLoach Jr., in 2016 as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. ADF has proudly presented $1.25 million in scholarships to 106 recipients reflecting the qualities that exemplified her life — a love of nursing, education, athleticism and world missions. In addition, ADF has built an international home for women in Abbie's name, with $90,000 invested to stop the exploitation of women. The mission of the foundation is to continue Abbie's legacy of selfless service to others, generosity, academic and athletic achievement, and compassion for all. It is headquartered in Savannah. For more information, visit www.abbiedeloachfoundation.com.

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