Photo Caption: Bethany Lay, executive director of the Columbia State Community College Foundation, recently received a contribution from Nancy Fletcher-Blume, chairman of the Council for the Written Word, which has, since 2003, funded a scholarship for a Columbia State student.

(FRANKLIN, Tenn. - March 26, 2012) - - - Since 2003, the Council for the Written Word has provided a scholarship to a Columbia State Community College student residing in Williamson County who exemplifies the organization's mission.

"This scholarship aids a Columbia State student who aspires to write," explained Bethany Lay, executive director of the Columbia State Foundation. "In partnering with our foundation, the Council for the Written Word has furthered its motto to educate, encourage and empower the artistic expression of local writers."

Lay was recently in Williamson County to accept a check for the 2012-2013 scholarship from the council's chairman of the board, Nancy Fletcher-Blume. This will be the last scholarship provided since the council has dissolved its 501(c)3 status.

Blume noted that since the council was founded in 1993 its members have been active in Williamson County, including hosting workshops for the public at the Columbia State Williamson County campus and the Williamson County Public Library.

Since its formation, the Council for the Written Word's ongoing project has been a compilation of a bibliography of past and present authors in Williamson County. Updated quarterly, it contains a brief biography and a listing of the published works of each person living in the County who has published a book. The bibliography is online at the Williamson County Public Library website, lib.williamson-tn.org. The Williamson County writers Hall of Fame, created by the council is housed in the public library. In 2009, the council published the anthology, Gathering: Writers of Williamson County, which featured some 31 local authors.

"The Columbia State Foundation has been pleased to work with the council in honoring and encouraging Williamson County writers through our scholarship program," Lay said.

Information about applying for Columbia State scholarships is available at www.columbiastate.edu/financial-aid or by calling (615) 790-4400.

Columbia State is a two-year college, serving a nine-county area in southern Middle Tennessee with locations in Columbia, Franklin, Lawrenceburg, Lewisburg and Clifton. The Williamson County Campus has served Williamson County residents for more than 30 years, and currently serves more than 1,400 students in the various program areas of Nursing, EMT/Paramedic, Business Technology, Commercial Entertainment, and more. For more information, please visit www.columbiastate.edu.