In 2007, the Edgar M. Jolley Memorial Scholarship was established to assist eligible children of employees in completing their education.
The goal of the scholarship is to reward students who embody the spirit of EMJ’s servant leadership culture through their service to their peers and communities. The fund provides an opportunity for students who excel in both academics and community involvement.
This year, EMJ awarded six deserving students with scholarships:
Daniel Connors is the son of Project Manager Matthew Connors, EMJ Construction Dallas. Daniel is currently a junior at Texas State University. He is a microbiology major with a minor in biochemistry. He is in the process of applying to medical school, hoping to become a physician.
Daniel works two jobs during the school year. He is a cook at Joe’s Café in San Marcos, and he teaches a general chemistry lab as a University Staff Member. In his free time, he volunteers with the Texas State University Medical Explorers.
Harper DeLoach is the son of EMJ Business Development Manager Cindy DeLoach. Harper will attend the University of Texas in the fall to major in mechanical engineering. A graduate of Coppell High School, he is a member of the National Honor Society, Young Men’s Service League, Night for Nepal and DECA. He also earned the Engineering Math Academic Award and finished 3rd place in the science fair.
Harper enjoys playing lacrosse and served as captain of the Coppell varsity team. He also founded and co-owns FlyBy Video Productions, a company that captures drone photos for company websites and advertisements.
Claire Johnson is the daughter of Boyd Waldrep, Manager of Talent Acquisition & Development at Signal Energy. Claire is a junior at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, studying theater education. She has been an active participant in Chattanooga local theater, cast in numerous musicals including Hairspray, Chicago and Oklahoma.
Claire graduates in the spring of 2020 and hopes to be a middle school or high school teacher. She is grateful for the opportunities provided by the EMJ Scholarship and is excited to see what she will accomplish through it.
Savannah Ross is the daughter of EMJ IT Systems Administrator Jay Ross. Savannah is a senior at RossAcademy of Higher Learning in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Home-schooled since kindergarten, she has excelled in both photography and public speaking. In the fall, she will be attending Chattanooga State in Chattanooga, where she plans to study digital media and production.
Colton Smith is the son of Audra Smith, Scheduler at Signal Energy. Colton is a sophomore at The University of Tennessee – Chattanooga, majoring in Computer Science and minoring in Criminal Justice.
Colton is on the Men’s Lacrosse Team at UTC and is part of the Honors Program. He will be a first year Resident Assistant (RA) this fall.
Colton’s goals and plans for the future are not yet fully decided, but he hopes to pursue a career in applications development with his degree.
Jonathan York, son of Signal Energy Superintendent Mike York, is a 2018 graduate of Bradley Central High School in Cleveland, Tenn. He was the President of the National Technical Honor Society, an active member of the National Honor Society, and a four-year member of the marching band.
This fall, Jonathan will attend Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, Tenn. He is planning to pursue a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. After college, he aspires to design and build bridges and open his own civil engineering firm.