Claire Myers Memorial Scholarship established at ECCC

East Central Community College in Decatur announces the establishment of the Claire Myers Memorial Scholarship, which was recently set up by the Load the Bar Foundation in memory of Claire who was killed in a car accident in January 2021.

Claire, known by her family and friends as “Tator,” was described by them as a “beautiful, sweet young woman who was as memorable as she was strong.”

She was a member of Beulah Baptist Church and enjoyed going on mission trips. She was a 2020 graduate of Newton County High School and at the time of her accident was attending her second semester at East Central Community College where she majored in forensic science.

Claire was a powerlifter throughout her high school career with both Newton County High School and the American Powerlifting Association (APA). She was a dedicated powerlifter and still holds 5 world records with the APA.

Load the Bar Foundation is a non-profit organization started by Claire’s family as a way to help others further their education and to keep her memory alive. Load the Bar Foundation got its name from a phrase Claire would always tell her dad when she was competing. On the last deadlift, she did not want to know how much weight was on the bar, but just wanted enough on it to win. She would say, “Don’t tell me Daddy, just load the bar!”

This scholarship program not only helps other students, but has been a way of helping her family cope with losing her while seeing her memory live on.

The recipient of the Claire Myers Memorial Scholarship will be selected annually by the ECCC Scholarship Committee. To be considered, applicants must be a graduate from the five-county service area which includes Leake, Neshoba, Newton, Scott and Winston counties, must be a full-time student attending ECCC with preference to students who powerlifted in high school, must have a minimum 3.0 GPA, must possess leadership qualities and provide two letters of reference, must apply for the scholarship through the scholarship process; and must have a financial need.

For more information, contact Dr. Stacey Hollingsworth, Executive Director of the ECCC Foundation, at sholling@eccc.edu or call 601-635-6327.