Scholarship to financially help pregnant women, parents
In hopes of helping students who are parents or who are expecting a child while obtaining their degree, Pro-Life Javelinas is offering a Bright Pregnant & Parenting Scholarship.
The organization strives to serve pregnant and parenting students attending Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) through pro-life activism, volunteer work and education on campus and around the community, according to the scholarship flyer posted on their Instagram.
Pro-Life Javelinas was founded in 2021 by Noelle Nguyen, Daniel Lerma and Bright Obi. However, Obi passed away before the organization and the plans were finalized.
“Once Daniel and I learned that Bright had passed away while we were finalizing everything, we thought it was right to name it after him, honoring him and symbolizing that everyone’s future is bright no matter what they went through,” Former Organization President Nguyen said.
This scholarship is to financially help parents with tuition, books, the child’s diapers, appointments, childcare or anything that may improve the quality of life for the parent and/or child.
In Spring 2022, the organization awarded three students, who were either pregnant or parenting, $650 each.
The organization also donated diapers, wipes and canned food items to the Javelina Care Closet.
“During my undergrad and grad programs, I had quite a few people in my classes that were pregnant and/or parenting. Many college students have food insecurities and financial instability, especially with cost of attendance, room and board,” Nguyen said. “The other founding officers and I had these students in mind when we created the scholarship. Our world tells parents, especially mothers, that we cannot have a family while obtaining an education or working. The scholarship was created to encourage moms and dads that they can do both.”
This year, the number of scholarship recipients and the amounts awarded depend on the amount Pro-Life Javelinas fundraise each semester and the number of people who apply.
“We understand that being a student parent is difficult, but we want to help,” Organization President Zoe Garcia said. “We created this scholarship to lessen the financial burdens of being a student parent.”
To apply for the scholarship, one must be a student at TAMUK who is either pregnant or a parent and enrolled in a minimum of six credit hours. If they have already had their child, the child must be living with them.
The full list of criteria is listed on the scholarship application, which can be found at https://forms.gle/aeWAe5WRc1hZ1BhN7.
For more information on the scholarship, please contact @prolifejavelinas on Instagram.