Scholarship Spotlight

Staying true to our mission, the Turnbow Foundation spotlights the Spring 2008 scholarship recipients.

Tia B.Meet Tia B., a full-time student at Mesa Community College (MCC) and a single mom to 3 year old Kylee. Tia has experienced many personal tragedies over the past year. Her father died suddenly and six months later her husband died in a motorcycle accident. Struggling to make ends meet, Tia realized that a college education was a way to achieve financial stability. Despite her personal tragedies, Tia maintains a 3.0 GPA and education is her number one goal. She plans to get her AA degree at MCC and then earn her bachelors degree at Ottawa University. "Since my husband's death, it has been a financial struggle to return to college, but with your scholarship it's been a little easier on my daughter and I."

Our next recipient is Susan B. a full-time nursing student at MCC and single mother to Paris 3 and Skyler 4. Susan is in her third semester of nursing school and maintains a GPA of 3.41. Although her life is hectic, she is able to balance school and being a single mother, and hopes that her children will see the importance of her education. "Having your children see you working hard to get a college degree, having them see the value of it, will instill in them a message that this is something important for them as well."

Megan K. is employed full-time, and is a full-time student and single mom. She is in her first semester of the MCC nursing program and has a 3.54 GPA. Along with all her responsibilities she finds the time to volunteer in her daughter's brownie troop. "I believe that by going to school as a single mother I am illustrating to my daughter responsibility, organization, time management as well as the incentive to pursue a professional career."

Irma S.Our next recipient is Irma S. who you may remember received our Fall 2006 scholarship. She is a single mom of two young boys. Her educational goal is to earn a degree in medical radiology. Irma's parents only attended school through the 2nd grade. She realized that she needed to break the cycle of poverty and an education will give her the opportunity to provide for herself and her children. "Returning to school at MCC is giving me an advantage to seek a college education, build more knowledge and accomplish my goal of earning a degree."

Our final recipient, Laura A., is a single mom working as a sleep medicine tech while attending Glendale Community College. She is studying criminal justice with the goal of getting her law degree. Although Laura juggles work, school and motherhood, she stays focused on her education. "Going to college is well worth the time, because in the end you are making a better life for you and your child."