Meredith LeAnn Maddox was a teacher, mentor and coach to the many students she touched in her short life here on earth. Meredith was born August 26, 1977 and passed away on March 31, 2015.
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Meredith attended and graduated from Briarwood Christian School in Birmingham, Alabama. She graduated from Samford University in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry. While at Samford, she was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority and the Samford University Track Team. In 2006, she received her Master of Science in Biology Education from the University of Alabama. Even though Meredith did not graduate from Auburn, her strong support and love for Auburn was evident in the many events and activities she attended with her parents, Pam ’74 and Elon Maddox ’73.
Meredith always had a desire to help others and that carried through when she had a tragic automobile accident in May 2000 that left her paralyzed below her arms with no motor or sensory skills. Meredith fought her way back from a long rehab, finished her education, and put into practice the teaching and coaching she so desired to deliver. Confined to a wheelchair was no issue for Meredith, as she once again engaged in sports and actually pushed several 10K races in her wheelchair to become a competitive athlete.
Additionally, she participated in the Paralympic trials in Atlanta in her racing chair and she also competed in the field events of javelin and discus. Meredith became more and more determined while participating in athletics as a paraplegic and she decided to teach and coach. She became a Track and Field Coach for Hoover High School where she worked for eleven years, teaching techniques she knew very well, just unable to demonstrate the skills from her wheelchair, but very much able to handle the challenge of teaching and coaching field events for Hoover. Her success was evident in the number of athletes she helped put on the podium at State Track Meets and the Sectional Meets leading up to State Track and Field Meets. She coached athletes that currently hold state records that continue to remain number one in 2015.
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Meredith will live through this endowed scholarship and the concept of helping students would be exactly what she desired as one of the most significant parts of her life. Even though her years on this earth ended abruptly, this scholarship will allow her to support academically gifted students who want to excel at Auburn University for a long time.
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Meredith's parents, Pam and Elon Maddox, are grateful and appreciative of The GBAC's support of this scholarship. Meredith had one brother, Elon W. Maddox, III and his wife Jacqueline (Jackie) Maddox and her nephew, Elon W. Maddox, IV.
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