Student Tells Scholarship Donors She Will Be a Teacher Because of Their Help
"Everything I am, and everything I hope to be, is because of the Lord's blessings in my life taking the form of my mother, Hardin-Simmons, my wonderful professors, and people who feel the need to give to a college student with whom they have never met."
Those are the words of Hardin-Simmons senior, Alexis Smith, as she spoke in front of a gathering of about 200 scholarship donors and student recipients at the annual appreciation luncheon.
Students who receive endowed scholarships are paired with the person who gave the scholarship money to help with their education at HSU.
Alexis is an education major from Haskell, TX, who has a passion for teaching special needs children. "Because of the support from my professors and the wonderful scholarship donors, I will have a career doing what I love, hopefully starting in August," Alexis told the audience.
She went on to explain that her interest in special needs children comes from two sources, her mother and a disability of her own.
"I remember at home playing games like 'Let's see who can find the most change,' just so we could go buy some milk."
"Even though we were very poor I never knew it because my mother was so incredible. She helped me learn to read at a very young age. I know she had to be exhausted from raising two children and trying to keep food on the table while paying for her own education so she could help special needs children in school."
"However, she stayed positive because she felt a greater calling, to make a life helping children who needed extra love and attention. I know that the Lord was with us during those hard days because he is the one who put that passion in my mother's heart and gave her the gift of love and patience."
Growing up, Alexis also had her own experience of losing her hearing when she was small.
"Three weeks ago I was fitted for new hearing aids so that I can hear my students. Because of your giving spirit I am free from college debt and have been able to afford doctors visits and the financial upkeep of having hearing aids."
Alexis is one of 95 scholarship recipients who got the chance to meet the donor of one of their scholarships at the annual Donor Recipient Appreciation Luncheon.
In addition to the $1.2 million in endowed scholarships, Hardin-Simmons students who are new or returning and pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree, receive an additional six-million dollars in Institutional Academic Scholarships for their education at HSU.
"One of my favorite pieces of scripture," says Alexis, "is from Hebrews 11:1 and it says that faith is being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see."
Alexis continues, "I am so thankful that you had faith in me and my commitment to becoming the best teacher I could ever be, and I am certain that with the Lord's help I will not let you down."
Photos:
Alexis Smith (left) with friend Melissa Dorr; Angela Nicolini, Donor of the Edward M. Wooten III Memorial Scholarship, and recipient Zavious Robbins, a marketing major; Jackie Moritz, Donor of the Thomas E. Moritz Memorial Scholarship, with recipient James Moore, a marketing major, graduating in 2010.
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