Akers remembered with scholarship established by his parents
Kim Chaudoin | 615.966.6494 |
The parents of a Lipscomb alumnus killed in a head-on collision in Dickson, County, Tenn., last year, have established a new scholarship in his memory at Lipscomb University for students preparing to be physicians.
James and Carol Akers recently established the Jacob Akers Memorial Scholarship in memory of their son, Jacob, who graduated from Lipscomb University with a biomolecular biology degree in May 2014. He accepted an invitation to attend medical school at Lincoln Memorial University following graduation.
“Jacob decided in sixth grade that he wanted to be a doctor and help people, and he never wavered from that dream,” Carol Akers said. “He was so excited when he learned he was accepted to Lipscomb because it was a step toward that goal.
“But it became so much more than that. His biology professors took a personal interest in him, accepted nothing less than his best effort and encouraged him to participate in medical missions, values that Jacob shared. He respected them, admired their dedication and thought of them as family. Because of them, he achieved his goal of being accepted to medical school.”
But on July 7, 2014, the 22-year-old’s dreams were cut short when he was killed in an automobile accident on Highway 49 in Charlotte, Tenn., when a car veered into his lane, hitting him head-on.
Carol Akers and her husband, James, knew how much their son wanted to attend medical school and wanted to find a way to honor his memory by helping others achieve their dreams of preparing for careers in health care at Lipscomb.
“We love Lipscomb and decided to set up this scholarship to encourage future students to fulfill Jacob’s dream of serving and healing,” she said.
Akers had a bright future as a physician according to his professors.
“Jacob was among the most resolute, determined, hard working, earnest and deliberate students I have ever taught,” said Kent Gallaher, professor of biology and chair of the department. “He was a great student but an even stronger Christian. He had a heart for the poor and marginalized in our community, and was very active with Mission 615 here in Nashville.
“In short, he was the prototypical Lipscomb pre-medical student. He had a great mind, a big heart and a strong faith. All of us in the biology department were impacted by his life and strongly affected by his death. We lost him far too soon.”
The Akers Scholarship will be awarded to junior- or senior-level biology majors at Lipscomb who are preparing for health-care related fields and hold a minimum 3.35 grade point average, said G. David England, associate vice president for advancement.
As an “expendable” scholarship, all donations to the fund will be distributed to students as financial aid in Jacob’s memory by Lipscomb’s Health Professions Advisory Office, England said.
“It is a very humbling and moving experience when people like James and Carol Akers choose to perpetuate the memory and values of a loved one by investing in future students through Lipscomb. We deeply appreciate their decision to establish this scholarship and to encourage other students to live out Jacob’s dream,” England said.
Donations to the Jacob Akers Memorial Scholarship may be made at give.lipscomb.edu.