MacKenzie Payne Scholarship Fund presents awards to first recipients.

Three graduating students from Emporia High School, Tonielle Miller, Taylor Thomas, and Karina Becerra-Mendez, are the inaugural recipients of the MacKenzie Payne Scholarship Fund of Newman Regional Health.

The fund provides an annual scholarship to assist a graduating Emporia High School senior who plans to pursue studies toward a medical or other healthcare-related career.

Pictured are Tonielle and Taylor, Karina was not able to attend the recognition ceremony due to other obligations.

Presenting the scholarships was Simmons, Facility Director Brian Potter, family friend.

The Fund was created by family and friends of MacKenzie Payne, an alumna of Emporia High School and the University of Kansas. Miss Payne had been accepted into the KU School of Medicine. Her life was tragically cut short when she was murdered in June 2018.