CCC Foundation receives gift to establish Jolly Good Samaritan Endowed Scholarship

The Scholarship honors the legacy of paramedic Mary Elizabeth Jolly and supports future EMS professionals

Staff Reports | Cleveland Community College

Education – The Cleveland Community College Foundation has received a $34,000 donation from the Jolly Good Samaritan Scholarship LLC to establish the Jolly Good Samaritan Endowed Scholarship, dedicated to supporting students enrolled in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) programs at Cleveland Community College.

The gift includes a $30,000 endowed contribution to create the scholarship fund and an additional $4,000 in spendable funds, allowing scholarship awards to begin during the 2026-27 academic year.

The scholarship honors the life and legacy of Mary Elizabeth Jolly, a CCC-trained paramedic whose commitment to serving others continues to inspire her family, friends, and colleagues.

Jolly worked with Gaston County Emergency Medical Services (GEMS) from 2021 until her death in 2025.

Known for her compassion, professionalism, and dedication to protecting others, she served on the department's swift water rescue team and received numerous recognitions throughout her career, including B-Shift Outstanding Paramedic in 2023 and B-Shift Excellence in Operational Readiness in 2025. In 2026, she was posthumously awarded the Gaston County Jaycees Distinguished Service Award, which will be named the Mary Jolly Distinguished Service Award going forward.

Jolly's final act reflected the selfless spirit by which she lived. After stopping to assist another driver involved in an accident on Interstate 95 in Florida, she suffered fatal injuries while rendering aid.

The scholarship was created by Jolly’s family to honor her memory and ensure her commitment to serving others continues through future generations of emergency medical professionals.

The Jolly family provided this message about why they are establishing this scholarship:

“Mary’s story is not the tragedy of how her life ended; it is the example of how she chose to live. She was selfless, brave, caring, and loving, with the biggest heart—only God knew how it fit into her tiny body.

“Mary loved being a paramedic. She was the person to show up on someone’s worst day and make it better. She was the calm in a chaotic situation. From helping someone with a cardiac arrest, assisting a woman in labor and delivering their baby into this world, or just simply spending a few extra minutes to settle a nervous elderly patient back home, Mary brought calm and comfort to those around her. She was the quietest person in a room with the loudest presence, a little ray of sunshine that touched so many.

“We are establishing the Jolly Good Samaritan Endowed Scholarship, in partnership with CCC, with the goal of giving future EMS students the opportunity to carry that same spirit of service forward. The world needs more people willing to show up for others simply because it is the right thing to do. We need more Marys. If this scholarship helps even one student become that person for someone else, then a piece of Mary’s legacy continues with every life they touch.

“Once a paramedic, always a paramedic, on or off duty. On her last call, while she was off duty and out of state, Mary did not hesitate to render assistance. She just did what she loved to do, help someone in need even in a dangerous situation.

“God has her in his keeping; we will always have her in our hearts.”

Through the Jolly Good Samaritan Endowed Scholarship, her legacy will live on by providing financial assistance to students enrolled in EMS programs at CCC, with preference given to those pursuing Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) and Paramedic credentials.

Applicants will be asked to share, through a written statement or video, what caring for others means to them, a reflection of the qualities Jolly demonstrated throughout her life and career.

“There are few professions that require the level of courage and compassion demanded of EMS personnel,” said Jason Hurst, president of CCC. “Mary Jolly lived those values every day and ultimately gave her life while helping someone else. The Jolly Good Samaritan Endowed Scholarship is a fitting tribute to her legacy, creating opportunities for future EMS professionals who share her commitment to serving others and our community.”

Through the establishment of the scholarship, the Jolly family hopes to invest in the next generation of emergency service personnel who will serve and protect communities throughout the region.

CCC Foundation Executive Director, Grayson Pierce, noted, "The CCC Foundation is so grateful to the Jolly family for their vision and generosity in creating the Jolly Good Samaritan Endowed Scholarship.

This scholarship not only honors Mary Jolly but invests in future EMS professionals who will continue the important work of caring for and protecting our communities.”

The scholarship will be administered by the Cleveland Community College Foundation and awarded annually in accordance with the CCC Foundation policies and scholarship selection procedures.

About the Cleveland Community College Foundation

The Cleveland Community College Foundation exists to support the mission of Cleveland Community College by securing and managing resources that enhance educational opportunities, strengthen workforce development in the community, and remove financial barriers for students. By providing scholarships, supporting college programs and building partnerships in the community, the CCC Foundation helps students achieve their educational and career goals.

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This is a press release of Cleveland Community College.

The Shelby Independent.