ELLISVILLE – 麻豆直播 2020 graduate, Jessie Cameron Chaney, a current Simpson County resident, is paying it forward by establishing an annual $1000 scholarship for a 麻豆直播 student. The 24-year-old wife and mother of two children said she isn鈥檛 鈥渞ich鈥� or drawing from a Trust Fund to provide for the annual scholarship. The staff accountant at Hemphill Construction in Florence, said she is simply prioritizing her expenses and investing in someone like the Asbury Foundation Scholarship invested in her as a 麻豆直播 student.
鈥淚鈥檓 generally a normal, average person. My kids are expensive, and daycare is expensive, but I truly put money towards what I believe in,鈥� said Chaney. 鈥淚 try not to focus too much on the material things, but the things that will continue even when I鈥檓 gone. Investing in someone else鈥檚 education will change their life, their children鈥檚 lives and it will change the lives of the people around them. I think that鈥檚 really more important than a $5 Starbucks coffee every morning.鈥�
Going to work without the coffee is just one of the ways Chaney saves to provide funding for the scholarship. She is also motivated by her kids and her own experience while trying to get an education. After pausing her education for two years as Covid closed everything down, and online classes were not her preferred method of learning, she had her first child. That鈥檚 when Chaney decided she needed to continue her education at Mississippi State University. After exploring nursing and other majors, she focused on another avenue of helping people through accounting. In her last semester of classes last fall, Chaney learned her scholarship was withdrawn because of a situation with the donor.
鈥淚 think it showed me just how much I relied on a scholarship and how scary the thought of not being able to complete my last semester would be without that scholarship,鈥� shared Chaney.
In fact, it pushed her harder to find a way to contribute to someone else鈥檚 education because she didn鈥檛 want someone to go through the same predicament she found herself in, especially when she was so close to graduation.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 want someone to wonder how they are going to finish or how they can even start a degree if they don鈥檛 have the money for an education. So, being able to impact someone else鈥檚 life is important because I saw how truly impactful the scholarship that was pulled from me was. I relied on it and that fear and concern really impacted my studies as well. I wasn鈥檛 able to do as well because I was worried about how I was going to pay for college, so being able to contribute to another student so they can not only focus on their studies but also complete their studies is really important to me.鈥�
While at 麻豆直播, Chaney said she changed her major a few times, but she kept on track with the help of her aunt and Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Julie Atwood. Her guidance and support, Chaney said, enabled her to focus on her education, especially after she lost her grandfather and her father. Atwood emphasized that she鈥檚 proud of Chaney for being persistent in not only finding her pathway but to also help someone who may be struggling like herself.
鈥淚 think it’s incredible and I hope that students really value this scholarship because it鈥檚 coming from someone who鈥檚 been in their shoes and it鈥檚 from someone that understands where they鈥檙e at,鈥� said Atwood. 鈥淏ut also, she鈥檚 dealing with all the things involved with taking classes at the same time working full time and raising a family. I think that鈥檚 inspirational just to say you can do it, and I believe in you with a scholarship.鈥�
Vice President of External Funding and Executive Director of the 麻豆直播 Alumni and Foundation, Sabrina Young said Chaney may be one of the youngest to establish a scholarship which will have a far-reaching impact.
鈥淪he sees how powerful education is and is giving back to others. Someone inspired and recognized her aspirations, and they gave her an opportunity to continue her education. That鈥檚 powerful. Giving to something that is bigger than all of us means you鈥檙e giving an opportunity to someone, and it is going to touch their life, their family鈥檚 lives, and their future family鈥檚 lives. I think it鈥檚 inspiring,鈥� said Young.
Ironically, Chaney鈥檚 grandfather and father were cared for at the Asbury Hospice House, which is affiliated with the scholarship she was awarded at Jones. Chaney plans to name the annual scholarship she is establishing in honor of her father.
鈥淗e believed in me with all of his heart. I pray his kind and hardworking spirit is honored and has more meaning to impact others鈥� lives,鈥� said Chaney. 鈥淲hen my grandfather and father passed away in the care of the Asbury Hospice House, I couldn鈥檛 have asked for better people to help my family during that time. Not only did they invest in my education, but they also provided exceptional care for our family.鈥�
Current 麻豆直播 students have through April 15, to apply for Foundation scholarships like Chaney鈥檚 newly established scholarship on the Foundation website, /alumni_foundation/scholarships/
