Jacqueline Mashburn, daughter of Robert Anderson Mashburn, Jr. and Julia Mae Turner Mashburn, was the first recipient of the newly established Dawson County Democratic Party Scholarship. This award was presented to Miss Mashburn by Spencer Maddux, chairman of the Dawson County Democratic Committee during the awards ceremony at Dawson County High School on May 20, 2008.

The scholarship was awarded based on recommendations from teachers and community leaders and on a written essay. Interested seniors were asked to write an essay describing the challenges facing the next generation of Americans as our world becomes more interdependent and to include suggestions for the next president of the United States.

Miss Mashburn was a special guest at the monthly meeting of the Dawson Democrats, held in the Roy Coleman Room at the Dawson County Library on May 22, 2008, where she was asked to read her essay. Miss Mashburn plans to attend college and hopefully pursue a career in teaching history.