VALPARAISO, Fla. — A Tennessee high school senior has been named the first recipient of the Roy Warner Memorial Scholarship, the Frances Roy Agency has announced.
Rylee Lorenz, a senior at Loudon High School in Loudon, Tennessee, received the $1,500 scholarship during a ceremony in Loudon on May 23—what would have been Roy Warner’s birthday. Lorenz, a four-year varsity basketball starter and part-time ice cream shop employee, also coaches a sixth-grade girls’ travel basketball team.
She plans to begin her nursing degree at South College in June and is pursuing a year-round RN-BSN program with the goal of working in pediatrics.
“Rylee exemplifies the kind of person my Papaw Roy believed in—someone who works hard, leads with heart, and serves with quiet purpose,” said Shantelle Dedicke, President and Chief Creative Officer of the Frances Roy Agency.
“This scholarship is our way of honoring his life and legacy, and in Rylee, we see the same values that shaped our family—resilience, faith, humility, and integrity.”
The scholarship was presented by Warner’s grandson, Roy Lee Warner II, and his family, including Jodie Warner, who serves as Research Coordinator at the Frances Roy Agency. The event was described as a meaningful and emotional tribute to Mr Warner’s memory as a dedicated craftsman and family man.
In her application essay, Lorenz wrote, “Healthcare offers a chance to impact lives with kindness, reflect my faith, and potentially save lives through my work.”
The Roy Warner Memorial Scholarship was founded in 2024 to assist students pursuing trade school and skill-based careers in fields such as healthcare, construction, and the creative trades. Applications for the 2026 scholarship will open in fall 2025 at www.francesroy.com.
Founded in 2016, Frances Roy Agency is an award-winning, full-service strategic marketing firm based on Florida’s Emerald Coast. The agency blends strategy, design, digital, and media expertise to help brands grow and connect meaningfully with audiences across the United States.
