MECC Foundation Announces Debra Rene Greene Memorial Endowed Scholarship

Debra GreeneBig Stone Gap – The Mountain Empire Community College Foundation is pleased to announce the establishment of the Debra Rene Greene Memorial Endowed Scholarship benefiting MECC students interested in careers in social work and counseling.

Debra was the daughter of Charles R. Greene and the late Mary Roberts Greene. The scholarship was created by her father, following Debra’s death in June 2019. Charles felt privileged to have witnessed the academic achievements and contributions of his daughter despite early onset kidney failure shortly after her graduation from J.J. Kelly High School in 1984.

Debra was a 29-year kidney transplant survivor having received her donor kidney from her uncle, Dennis Greene. Despite this obstacle she received her Associate Degree from Mountain Empire Community College in 1993 and her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Virginia Intermont College in 1996. She served eleven years as Guidance Counselor at the Flatwoods Job Corps in Coeburn, Virginia positively influencing many young lives as evidenced by their fond remembrance of her.

Debra was also a born-again Christian and attended Bethel Chapel Freewill Baptist Church. She was an inspiration to all who knew her, always offering a warm smile, a cheerful greeting, and an uplifting faith in Jesus Christ. She loved to laugh and to have others laugh with her bringing joy to their lives.

Gifts in honor of Debra can be made to the Debra Rene Greene Memorial Scholarship, Mountain Empire Community College Foundation, 3441 Mountain Empire Road, Big Stone Gap, VA, 24219 or online at www.meccfoundation.org. Please list the scholarship name in the gift memo.

The Mountain Empire Community College Foundation supports the mission of Mountain Empire Community College by providing scholarships and funding for student success programs, professional development for faculty, and cultural programs for the community. The Foundation supports more than $300,000 in scholarships annually.

For more information regarding scholarships or to establish a scholarship, please contact the Mountain Empire Community College Foundation at 276.523.7466 or visit www.meccfoundation.org.

-MECC FOUNDATION-