Arkansas Tech University students earn Heath Memorial Scholarship, one from Bentonville and another from Oklahoma – Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
RUSSELLVILLE — Arkansas Tech University students Rachel Caldwell of Piedmont, Okla., and Addy Taye Ward of Bentonville have been selected as the initial recipients of the Korey Brooke Heath Memorial Scholarship through the ATU Foundation.
Caldwell and Ward are both juniors who are in their second semester of nursing school at Arkansas Tech, according to a news release from the university. Caldwell is a member of the Arkansas Tech cross country team, while Ward is a member of the Arkansas Tech softball team.
“These two students were chosen specifically because of their interest in oncology nursing,” said Karmen Goodner, ATU assistant professor of nursing. “Both students were inspired to pursue oncology nursing because of personal relationships in their lives that have also suffered and battled cancer diagnoses.”
The namesake of the scholarship was initially diagnosed with brain cancer in 2012. She overcame the disease to graduate from Russellville High School and was a senior nursing student at ATU when brain cancer claimed her life on May 29, 2023.
Heath was a member of the University Honors program and earned multiple Dean’s List awards in recognition of her academic achievement at Arkansas Tech. She received her nursing degree posthumously in December 2023.
“One thing I love about Korey’s story is that no matter how many times you hear it, you can’t help but feel inspired to be a light in dark places and pursue your dreams and goals without letting anything hold you back,” said Goodner. “These scholarship recipients are student-athletes, demonstrating their dedication and commitment to their lifelong goals. They both said they appreciated the scholarship because it relieves financial burden on students in college and lets them focus more on their responsibilities as student-athletes.”
Goodner and Jeremy Schwehm, professor and program director of organizational studies, launched the effort to establish the Korey Brooke Heath Memorial Scholarship in 2024.
In June 2025, 42 participants joined with sponsors ABC Children’s Academy, Sorrells Body Shop, Touchstone Wealth Heartland Partners, DYNE Hospitality and Matador Gas to raise approximately $7,000 in support of the scholarship through a fundraising golf tournament. Goodner and Schwehm were joined by university faculty colleagues Terri McKown, Shelly Daily and Melissa Darnell as tournament volunteers.
“Something Korey, Rachel and Addy Taye all said during their experience with cancer treatments is how much of a difference the nurses make for patients and their families,” said Goodner. “Nurses are the ones at the bedside day in and day out. They are the ones with the opportunity to take sad and challenging situations, find meaning and purpose in them and give patients and families hope for the future.
“Hearing Korey’s story and how she fought fearlessly through the last year of nursing school, despite being in and out of the hospital with cancer treatment and radiation, inspired these two students to continue to push through the difficult days or the busy days because of the impact they will make as future nurses,” continued Goodner. “They were challenged to continue to spread awareness about childhood cancer and utilize the opportunities they have as nurses to be a voice and shine a light for those fighting cancer.”
Call (479) 968-0400 or email [email protected] for more information about establishing or contributing toward a scholarship through the ATU Foundation.
Copyright © 2025, Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC. (NWA Media)
All rights reserved.
This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC
Material from the Associated Press is Copyright © 2025, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing. All rights reserved.
