April 23, 2006

Andrea Joy Forrest was only 20 years old when a tragic car accident took her life last year, but her brother, Robert Forrest, has established an endowed scholarship at Lyon College that will keep her name and memory alive.

Robert Forrest ’97 and his wife Jennifer (left) have established the Andrea Joy Forrest Endowed Scholarship Fund, in hopes of helping other bright, hard-working young women like Andrea fulfill their educational goals.

"The scholarship was created to honor and celebrate Andrea’s love of family, education and life. She believed in giving back to others and this scholarship is just an extension of her ideals," Robert Forrest said when asked about why the scholarship was created.

Robert, who graduated from Lyon with a specially created major in biochemistry, went on to medical school at UAMS and now works as a forensic psychiatrist.

The Memorandum of Agreement for the scholarship states that: "Andrea was a model student with an exemplary work ethic, both in the classroom and the community. It was not uncommon for her to work a forty-hour week while balancing a full college semester and equally full social calendar. She was a model daughter and sister, with an unmatched passion for friends and family. She demonstrated a high moral character that made an impact on all those around her."

The scholarship criteria were designed to reflect Andrea’s personal characteristics. The scholarship will be awarded to a freshman entering Lyon College with priority given to a female resident of Craighead County with a 3.5 high school GPA or better and who held a job during high school.

"Andrea was an outstanding student with a strong work ethic," Robert said. "It made sense to set the scholarship up that that way."

Andrea would have turned 22 on April 20. To celebrate her life and legacy, the family asks all those interested to donate to the Andrea Joy Forrest Scholarship Fund at Lyon College.

Donations may be made online at www.lyon.edu or by mail to Lyon College, P.O. Box 2317, Batesville, AR 72503, payable to "Lyon College" Please note that the gift is for the Andrea Joy Forrest Endowed Scholarship Fund.