{"id":3540,"date":"2026-08-25T17:02:55","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T22:02:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/?p=3540"},"modified":"2026-09-01T16:58:52","modified_gmt":"2026-09-01T21:58:52","slug":"from-student-to-donor-one-jccc-alum-pays-it-forward","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/2026\/08\/25\/from-student-to-donor-one-jccc-alum-pays-it-forward\/","title":{"rendered":"From Student to Donor: One JCCC Alum Pays it Forward"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cI graduated high school here in Johnson County,\u201d said Stephene Moore, a scholarship donor at Johnson County Community College. \u201cThere was no hope whatsoever that I\u2019d be able to go to school.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That reality wasn\u2019t unusual in the late 1960s. It was simply the way things were.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy brother was in college, and I was help paying his tuition working after [school],\u201d she said. \u201cI mean it was that, it was just the situation. I\u2019m not crying about it. It just is what it is.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

She did not let her situation stop her. She was so intent on getting her degree, she spent over two decades obtaining it.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And she didn\u2019t stop there. With her schooling finished, Moore decided she wanted to help future students by making their educational journey a little easier.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Moore was the oldest girl in a family of six. Her father worked steadily, but money was tight. Her mother stayed home. And in the late 1960s, expectations for young women were narrow.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWomen and girls were still not having all the opportunities men and boys had,\u201d she said. \u201cWe were very much expected to get married or get a job as a teacher, secretary or nurse\u2026 Many were still staying at home after HS [high school] to help with running the home\/farm or family business.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But that did not stop her from quietly holding on to hope.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut I sure dreamed over the brochures I sent off for about going to school,\u201d she said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Five decades later, that same dream looks very different for students like Eleyna Vasquez-Kimball. Thankfully the opportunities for women have drastically improved, but the financial barriers are still very much a deciding factor for most people.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI graduated when I was 18, and then I was working at Home Depot at the time,\u201d Vasquez-Kimball said. \u201cAs soon as I graduated, I went full-time, 40 plus hours a week. I was working overtime. I did that for two years straight.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Her goal was clear. She would have to save enough money to afford college.\u201cI don\u2019t come from a family of money at all,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd that\u2026 was the biggest hurdle for me. Like, I can\u2019t go to college if I don\u2019t have the money.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Two women, facing similar circumstances, with a shared reality: one without financial support and with higher education feeling out of reach.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

People often talk about scholarships in terms of dollars awarded to help financially support students. Their true impact, however, is more personal and becomes cyclical.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Moore eventually began taking classes at Johnson County Community College in 1973. Almost 20 years later, after raising four children and navigating life\u2019s challenges, she ultimately completed her associate degree and went on to earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI never gave up on myself,\u201d she said. \u201cEventually I was able to complete my two-year degree\u2026 and transfer to KU to earn my BSN.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Today, Moore is not just a former student. She is a donor.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Along with her late husband, U.S. Representative and former JCCC Trustee Denis Moore, they decided to start a scholarship.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe way we wrote it, I think, is that anyone can apply to it,\u201d she said of the scholarship she and her husband established. \u201cYou can be in any school\u2026 nursing, HVAC, whatever you\u2019re doing. It doesn\u2019t matter to us.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What does matter is something deeper.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re very big on public service, community service,\u201d she said. \u201cThat\u2019s one key.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Her motivation is rooted in both gratitude and perspective.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been fortunate,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s a way to give back\u2026 It\u2019s not going away. My kids know they\u2019ll get to continue it.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Moore\u2019s story illustrates a powerful idea: those who once faced barriers are often the ones most committed to removing them for others.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Like Moore, Nancy Ingram, is a long time supporter of JCCC\u2019s students through the Foundation.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI was a trustee here for eight and a half years,\u201d Ingram said, reflecting on her long-standing connection to the college. After her time as a trustee, she joined the Foundation board, continuing her commitment to education.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo, it was really more a matter of just supporting education in our community,\u201d she said, and that support is often given in many different ways.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey always talk about time, talent, and treasure,\u201d Ingram said. \u201cWe\u2019ve given time, we share our talent\u2014but I think it\u2019s really important to share treasure too. You do what you can.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Through her work, Ingram has seen firsthand the realities students face.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI have seen and heard and met directly with students who face challenges that I never could have imagined,\u201d she said. \u201cEver. Ever.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Often overlooked or forgotten about are the impacts of stepping in to help others.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy dad always said, \u2018If everybody did a little, can you imagine what would be?\u2019\u201d.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Scholarships are that \u201clittle\u201d multiplied across the generosity of a community.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For Vasquez-Kimball, that impact is tangible.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut you know what? With the scholarships that I\u2019ve been exposed to\u2026 it\u2019s been possible,\u201d she said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

She entered college with a clear financial ceiling, and it was one defined by her savings.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI can only go as far as my money can go,\u201d she said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Vasquez-Kimball was given an opportunity to work in the Financial Aid Department where both the FAFSA and scholarships changed that equation.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, I\u2019m not just doing it by myself anymore,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m doing it with the help of people that have been through what I\u2019ve been through\u2026 and that alone gave me the hope that I can go further than my money.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In fact, the financial impact has been life changing.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFor my education\u2026 none,\u201d she said of out-of-pocket expenses. \u201cCombined with all the scholarships that I have received, I have not touched my savings.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Financial security is just the beginning of the effects scholarships have had on her life. The emotional impact, however, may be even greater.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt makes me happy,\u201d she said. \u201cIt makes me proud too, because\u2026 I wouldn\u2019t even be able to do it without the people that have helped me.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Vasquez-Kimball\u2019s story shows by decreasing financial burdens, scholarships expand possibilities.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Moore and Vasquez-Kimball\u2019 may have had different obstacles to overcome, and as a society some may have opened up some opportunities, however, there is still work to be done.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Moore grew up in a time when financial constraints and societal expectations limited her access to education. This was the norm. Vasquez-Kimball\u2019s reality is different. For her the opportunity was there, but affordability remained her hurdle.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This is where the generosity of others comes in. Donors realize talent and ambition are everywhere, but access is not.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Enter scholarships.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Scholarships provide students with the ability to decrease work hours by decreasing financial stress, allowing them to focus more on coursework and pursue opportunities that will enhance their overall success.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For donors, the impact of a scholarship may begin with a single student, but it rarely ends there.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Moore recalls reviewing applications and feeling the weight of each story.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI want them to get it,\u201d she said about her scholarship. \u201cAnd we did have an awful lot of people [apply] last year. I like to read through each application, such one tugs at my heart.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

One applicant stood out in particular.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA young man who was working on a degree to help his family,\u201d she said. \u201cHe simply would not be able to continue without the financial support of a scholarship.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That is the moment where giving becomes personal, and the donor becomes part of the recipient\u2019s future.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And that future extends far beyond any one recipient.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Students who receive scholarships are more likely to persist, graduate, and contribute to their communities. Many go on to mentor others, support their families, and some, like Moore, decide to give back.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This not only creates but perpetuates a cycle of generosity and allows for our continue to prosper.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Through The Johnson County Community College Foundation, scholarships are made possible by a community that believes in education.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re so fortunate here in Johnson County to have people who care about education,\u201d Ingram said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That care is reflected not just in large gifts, but in collective action.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf everybody did a little,\u201d Ingram said, \u201ccan you imagine what would be?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The answer is visible every day on campus. It is visible in the classrooms, and in the student support resources available on campus.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Most importantly, it is an overwhelmingly apparent theme in the stories of students who are able to pursue their goals because someone chose to invest in them.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For Moore, the journey has come full circle. From a young woman who saw no path to college, to a bachelor\u2019s in nursing over 20 years in the making, to a donor helping create an easier educational path for others.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Vasquez-Kimball\u2019s path is still unfolding. Her\u2019s, is one made possible through the generosity of people she may never meet.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bringing them together is the Foundation, where generosity becomes impact.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Scholarships are often thought of as time sensitive, an impact fleeting from semester to semester. But in reality, they are something more enduring.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Scholarships are really a helping hand extended by one generation to the next.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Moore puts it simply when she says, \u201cInvesting in the education of others is an investment in the future.\u201d.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cI graduated high school here in Johnson County,\u201d said Stephene Moore, a scholarship donor at Johnson County Community College. \u201cThere was no hope whatsoever that I\u2019d be able to go to school.\u201d\u00a0 That reality wasn\u2019t unusual in the late 1960s. It was simply the way things were.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cMy brother was in college, and I was […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":1057,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[78,360,26,359],"ppma_author":[358],"class_list":["post-3540","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-cavs","tag-foundation","tag-jccc","tag-scholarship"],"author_meta":{"display_name":"Saul Epstein","author_link":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/author\/sepstein\/"},"featured_img":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/files\/2025\/02\/JCCC-Main-Entrance-300x158.jpg","coauthors":[{"link":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/author\/justin-prowell\/","display_name":"Justin Prowell"}],"tax_additional":{"categories":{"linked":["News<\/a>"],"unlinked":["News<\/span>"]},"tags":{"linked":["Cavs<\/a>","foundation<\/a>","JCCC<\/a>","scholarship<\/a>"],"unlinked":["Cavs<\/span>","foundation<\/span>","JCCC<\/span>","scholarship<\/span>"]}},"comment_count":"0","relative_dates":{"created":"Posted 2 weeks ago","modified":"Updated 1 week ago"},"absolute_dates":{"created":"Posted on August 25, 2026","modified":"Updated on September 1, 2026"},"absolute_dates_time":{"created":"Posted on August 25, 2026 5:02 pm","modified":"Updated on September 1, 2026 4:58 pm"},"featured_img_caption":"","series_order":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"authors":[{"term_id":358,"user_id":0,"is_guest":1,"slug":"justin-prowell","display_name":"Justin Prowell","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&r=g","author_category":"","first_name":"","last_name":"","user_url":"","job_title":"","description":""}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/files\/2025\/02\/JCCC-Main-Entrance-scaled.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3540","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3540"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3540\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3542,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3540\/revisions\/3542"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1057"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3540"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3540"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3540"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=3540"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}