ELLISVILLE- This spring, the first Jones College student will be awarded one of hopefully many scholarships from the newly endowed, Cade Thompson Memorial Scholarship. Lorrie Thompson, a 1993 JCJC graduate and her husband Chris of Soso, endowed the Cade Thompson Memorial Scholarship on JC’s Day of Giving last November, as a way to continue the legacy of their 18-year-old son Cade, who was set to graduate from West Jones High School in 2022. He was also enrolled as a dual enrolled student at Jones College when an accident ended his life on October 20, 2021. Knowing Cade had planned to continue his education at Jones College and hopefully become a Game Warden, the Thompson’s wanted to ensure the opportunity for an education would be available for other students.
“I want to help somebody, somebody who is not a straight ‘A’ student,” said Lorrie Thompson. “I want this scholarship to go to an average student who may not be expecting a scholarship, like Cade. He was kind of an average student.”
Most of his time was spent outdoors fishing. Cade also played left tackle and tight end for the Mustangs of West Jones High School’s football team. The Thompson’s said Cade was proud to be on the football team. He was prepared to miss the family’s annual Thanksgiving vacation to practice with the team, regardless of whether he was a starter, still earning his position, or being a friend to his teammates. Recently, the West Jones football team retired Cade’s jersey number, #56 in his honor.
“After Cade passed, the mother of a boy with special needs who helped manage the football team sent me a message. She said Cade always treated her son with respect. He would sit and talk with her son, play video games and make sure he was OK, all before football practice. Cade never mentioned it to us. We’re so proud of him,” said Lorrie.
The Thompsons have also established scholarships for West Jones High School football players and cheerleaders. They hope the new JC scholarship established on Jones College’s Day of Giving will help a student like Cade who loved fishing, football, and his family.
“He would have been proud that we were doing this, that’s what he would have wanted, but he wouldn’t want any recognition. That was not like him. He didn’t want the spotlight on him, but I could see him standing there with a grin on his face, proud,” Lorrie shared.
In fact, the family said they hope to keep building upon the Cade Thompson Memorial Scholarship, every year in memory of their son.
“To this day, we still get postcards, letters and stuff from people from Florida, Georgia, places all over. People were praying for us from the Philippines. There are just good people out there who still remember us and want to give back too,” said Chris.
For the last four years, Jones College’s Day of Giving event has surpassed goals. The JCJC Alumni & Foundation Office total last fall exceeded all expectations with a final tally of $652,616.48. Vice President of External Funding, Sabrina Young explained that establishing scholarships like the Cade Thompson Memorial Scholarship continues Cade’s legacy by providing funds that live on forever in others who also impact many more people in the community.
“I’m grateful and thankful on behalf of Jones College for the Thompson’s entrusting us with continuing Cade’s memory and his legacy. Providing the funds to endow a scholarship that will live on forever is a treasure that keeps growing, and becomes even more valuable over time,” said Young.
The Jones College Foundation is now accepting scholarship applications for the Fall 2024/Spring 2025 academic year through the JC App. Applicants must be current Jones College students, maintain a minimum GPA of 2.50, and be enrolled full-time for the upcoming academic year. To learn more about how to apply for JC Foundation scholarships, click on the link: https://www.jcjc.edu/Foundation_scholarships/.