Honoring Family, Education, and Legacy at Anniston Academy

At Anniston Academy, our mission extends far beyond the classroom. We believe education has the power to transform lives — not just for our students, but for the communities we serve. This fall, that mission took on special meaning as Co-Founder Dr. Erin Mekkaoui honored two deeply personal legacies through scholarships established at Tennessee Tech University.

In September, Dr. Mekkaoui attended the Tennessee Tech Nursing Scholarship Dinner to award the inaugural Melisa Corn McCollough Memorial Endowed Scholarship, created in memory of her mother. This scholarship supports nursing majors from the Upper Cumberland region, honoring her mother’s lifelong devotion to caregiving, education, and community service.

Just as we encourage our students to grow into thoughtful and compassionate leaders, both scholarships reflect the values we hold dear — empathy, service, and the belief that education can change the world.

In October, Dr. Mekkaoui also had the honor of meeting the first recipient of the Tyler “Ducky” Crouch Memorial Endowed Scholarship, established in memory of her brother, Tyler. His life, spirit, and unmistakable sense of humor continue to inspire everything we do at Anniston Academy. Tyler’s joy, kindness, and off-the-wall personality live on in our commitment to inclusion — and yes, he’s also the reason our school mascot proudly wears shoes with ducks on them. This scholarship is awarded to students majoring in special education.

We are so proud of this year’s scholarship recipients and know they will carry forward Tyler’s and Melisa’s legacies of compassion, resilience, and dedication to serving others. At Anniston Academy, we are proud to carry forward a legacy of education, compassion, and community — both in our classrooms and throughout the Upper Cumberland.