Dorsey_Mary Katherine_OMHS

Oak Mountain High School Senior Katherine Dorsey, has been awarded the Vern Davis Legacy Scholarship, a $500 scholarship awarded annually to a graduating Shelby County senior enrolling into a four-year college with a planned major in education.

The Vern Davis Legacy Scholarship is named in honor of J. Verner Davis, who served the Shelby County Schools for other 30 years as a teacher, Federal Program Administrator, Associate Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent until his retirement in 1992.  During his more than 39 total years in education, Mr. Davis never lost his love for the classroom or his compassion and understanding of the needs of classroom teachers.   His family and friends established a permanent memorial fund to finance annual scholarships for deserving student entering the education field.

Ms. Dorsey, the daughter of Tina and Claude Dorsey, is planning to attend Auburn University as an education major.  Her high school honors include the being published in the Shelby County Journal of Literary Arts, committee member of Relay for Life, Peer Assistant and Student Mentor, and PALS (Peer Assisted Learning Support) working with special needs students. 

Working with special needs students is something very dear to Dorsey’s heart, who because she has struggled to overcome a learning disability herself.

“Have you ever been surrounded by people who understand what the teacher is saying but you just do no understand?” Dorsey wrote in her essay.  “Have you ever felt discouraged because you are not smart enough?  I have often experienced this struggle!  In 2008, I was diagnosed with a learning disablity.  I then understood why learning, at times, could be so difficult for me.”

Dorsey said with the help of certain teachers, she was able to understand that it wasn’t that she couldn’t learn, but that she learns in a different way.  She said that realization helped her believe in herself develop the confidence needed to achieve anything.

“I want to be a teacher so I can teach children to believe in themselves and to believe they have a future no matter what circumstances or obstacles are in their way,” Dorsey wrote. “I believe teachers no only educate students, I believe they can be that one person that impacts a life. I want to be a teacher so I can be that person to many children.”

Bobby Deavers, the junior/senior counselor at OMHS, said that Dorsey is a geniune, sincere, and humble student who demonstrates tremendous work ethic and deep empathy for struggling students. 

“While Katherine was diagnosed with a learning disability, she has not used her diagnosis as a crutch, but as a springboard,” said Deavers. “Katherine has committed herself to hard work and perserverance.”