Opening a new chapter
Final Drew Melton Scholarship recipient honored
Over the years, following the death of a well-loved Benton softball player, more than 20 students have received the Drew Melton Memorial Scholarship. This year the final recipient was named as family and friends of Drew are looking into new ways to give back to the community.
The final recipient of the scholarship, Sarah Beth Prickett, a 2021 graduate of Benton High School, said she has been friends with the Melton family her entire life.
After running a florist business from her home while she was in high school, Prickett recently opened a business, Oh Hey Bouquet, in Downtown Benton.
Susan Melton, Drew’s mother, said that Prickett and her daughter shared many similar traits including kindness and loyalty. Over the years, Prickett has helped at every event hosted in Drew’s honor, Susan said.
Prickett also had a lot of friends like her daughter and is beautiful on the inside, as well as outside, Susan said, adding that Prickett was the easiest scholarship recipient to select.
Susan told Prickett she will also be “team Sarah Beth” and “always routing for you.”
Earlier this week at Prickett’s business, her friends and family were joined by Drew’s family and fellow recipients of the scholarship to celebrate the end of the scholarship and the start of something new.
Susan told the group the time
just felt right to look into new opportunities.
Drew was killed in a car accident the day before Thanksgiving in November of 2012 when she was 17 years old.
Several different community events have been hosted in her honor including the annual Drew Melton: Forever Young Tournament, which generated money for the scholarship, as well as blood drive and awareness campaigns about the dangers of “hilltopping.”
Susan noted that to this day the wrecked car from Drew’s accident is still used by police to show the dangers of this type of driving when a driver accelerates a vehicle as it approaches the top of a hill causing the vehicle to become airborne.
Drew played softball most of her life and was the starting shortstop for the Benton Lady Panthers.
Family and friends say that Drew will not only be remembered for his skills on the field, but also her kindness and fun off the field.
Susan said that Drew had tons of friends including students in Benton and Bryant.
Since her daughter’s death, her mother said she had has heard stories from fellow students about how Drew was always so kind to anyone and everyone.
Sydnee Golman Caldwell was a close friend of Drew and the two planned to attend the University of Arkansas together and live as roommates.
The two met each other in third grade and they were friends until Drew’s death.
Caldwell described Drew as “the best person when you needed a laugh” and someone who did not take herself too seriously.
“She always had a reason to giggle,” she said.
Drew was also a natural softball player.
“She just got how to win,” Caldwell said.
Caldwell was a recipient of the scholarship the first year, along with the other graduating softball players.
She said that even though it was devastating that Drew was not able to attend the University of Arkansas, she felt through the scholarship she had support from everyone at home.
“It felt like I had their support and through that, I had her (Drew’s) support,” Caldwell said, adding that she ultimately attended the Walton School of Business.
She now works at Winstream.
Recipients of the
Drew Melton Memorial Scholarship include:
2013
• Sydee Golman Caldwell, University of Arkansas.
• Daphne Bono, Arkansas Tech.
• Jessica Franklin Worthington, Ua-little Rock
• Korie Parker Pigue, University of Arkansas at Monticello.
• Jessica Hardig Goeman, Ua-little Rock.
• Taylor Maxwell, Baptist Health College Little Rock. 2014
• Anna Hurley, Harding.
• Rachael Mcallister, Arkansas State University.
• Karrie Mccurrey Johnson, Arkansas State University.
2015
•Delaney Bono Harris, Ouachita Baptist University. 2016
• Taylor Oglesby, Hendrix.
• Kylee Mcclendon, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
• Samantha Melton, University of Arkansas.
2017
• Madi Lancaster, Mississippi College.
• Emma Edmonson, Ouachita Baptist University.
• Brianna Lankford, Lyon College.
2018
• Madi Mehlin, University of Arkansas.
• Rylea Brimhall, University of Arkansas.
2019
• Bradyn Hendriz, Henderson.
• Dawson Dabbs, U.S. Airforce.
2020
• Kali Hardig
2021
Sarah Beth Prickett, owner of Oh Hey Bouquet.
Susan noted that all of this would not be possible without the help of many family and friends including: Drew’s father Ted Melton, Jennifer and Tim Golman, Gary and Lisa Bono, Lee
Ann Prickett and Greg
Davis, who serves as president of the board.
Drew also received support from her grandparents: Fred and Jean Melton, Joe Don and Mary Davis, along with her aunt Kelly Melton Stewart.
Now as family and friends look into new ways to help others, Caldwell said it is only fitting since giving was a part of Drew’s nature.
The two were only in fourth grade when Drew starting raising money to buy other students Christmas presents,
Caldwell said.
“That was just in her to look around and see a need,” Caldwell said, adding that Drew and everyone involved is so blessed to live in this community and are passionate about giving back.