FRANKLIN—An annual scholarship has been established in memory of Karen Phillips Chase, a mother of three who was killed in a car accident on June 14, 2010, in Isle of Wight County.

The scholarship in the Franklin native’s honor will benefit students in the registered nursing program at Paul D. Camp Community College. Damacita Cave, of Holland, is the first recipient of the $500 Karen Phillips Chase Memorial Nursing Scholarship.

A graduate of Franklin High School and the Louise Obici School of Nursing, Chase was a registered nurse with the Western Tidewater Health District for more than 25 years.

According to her husband, Rusty of Windsor, and daughters Lindsey Christine, Lauren Brooke and Leigh-Ann Phillips, the Karen Phillips Chase Memorial Nursing Scholarship was established to give back to the community as the community has been so giving to them.

Karen Chase is remembered for being happy, close to her family and always smiling. She was a very loving person who strongly believed in the importance of education. She encouraged her daughters to be at their best.

They have not let her down.

Lindsey will graduate from Old Dominion University next year with bachelor’s degrees in psychology and human services. She is also a PDCCC graduate.

Lauren graduated from PDCCC in May with an associate’s degree in business.

Leigh-Ann will graduate from Windsor High School next June and attend PDCCC before transferring to Longwood University to study to become a teacher.

The criteria for this scholarship include an acceptance letter to the nursing program and an essay about career goals and why nursing was chosen as a profession.