The Elliott Scholarship

Each year the Elliott Scholarship is awarded by the Chamber of Commerce to a deserving senior from Water Valley High School. The scholarship was set up to honor Joe Elliott, Jr. and Patsy Elliott for their untiring efforts to reestablish the Watermelon Carnival. The 2009 recipient of the scholarship is Amber Nicole Burney.

Amber Nicole Burney was born April 6, 1990. Her parents are Tracy Kisner of Water Valley and Jeff Burney of Coffeeville. She is a member of Anchor Baptist Church.

Amber began school in 1995 at Davidson Elementary in the Water Valley School System, where she was a student through the fifth grade. In grades 6-9 she was a student at Faith Christian Academy in Water Valley, returning to the Water Valley School System in 2006. She graduated salutatorian from Water Valley High School.

Throughout high school she received many awards. These awards include: 2006, Academic Excellence in Pre-Biology and Transition to Algebra, and Citizenship Award; 2007, Academic Excellence in Algebra I, English II, World History and Child Development, National Honor Roll, National English Merit Award Winner, Who's Who Among American High School Students, the National Society of High School Scholars; 2008, Academic Excellence in English III, U.S. History, Mississippi Governor's School

Achievement Award, Mississippi Governor's School; 2009, Who's Who Senior class Favorite. Her extracurricular activities include: Beta Club 2006 - 2009, volleyball, and piano.Amber's hobbies include sleeping, shopping, swimming, and hanging out with family and friends. She also participated as a missionary with the Mexico Mission Team.

Ms. Burney plans to continue her education by attending Delta State University.