Dear Beloved Friends in Christ,
I write to you all to express immense gratitude and appreciation for my time as a Sister Thea Bowman Foundation Scholar these past 3 years. This Foundation was able to assuage all the burdens and dilemmas I faced and made my educational experience much more manageable.
Growing up in the small rural town of Hot Springs, Arkansas, I never thought I would attend a post-secondary institution in the urban vicinity of Chicago, Illinois. Initially, I was apprehensive and hesitant on taking this risk as it is practically life changing; however, the Sister Thea Bowman Foundation was the ignition I needed to embark on this journey at DePaul University, the largest Catholic university in the nation.
It was not easy growing up in the south side of America when considering my racial background. I was always told to look at trade schools for mechanics or barbers. Although great careers, I just knew that was not the pathway I wanted to embark on. It was not until I read The Hot Zone by Richard Preston when I was 14, that I knew that I wanted to pursue a career within the science field. The important decision was deciding where to begin my undergraduate education. It was honestly one of the hardest choices I had to make, especially considering cost, location, opportunities, and many other factors. Initially I settled upon Rockhurst University; however, after learning from my school counselor of the opportunities the Sister Thea Bowman Foundation offered, I quickly sought out that option and was afforded an interview and ultimately awarded the scholarship to attend DePaul University.
Since my time at DePaul, I have been able to thrive both inside and outside the classroom. From maintaining a 3.8 GPA, to working in a bacteriology laboratory in NYC this summer, to even conducting a psychological international research experiment in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Foundation has not only helped provide financial resources so I did not have to stress about loans on top of academics, but it has also created in my life a support system to where I can talk to and connect with my coordinators and other scholars with just about anything.
I will graduate from DePaul University with a BS in Biological Sciences in June 2024. The Sister Thea Bowman Foundation will allow me to be the first in my family to graduate from college and take it further to pursue a Ph.D. in cellular and molecular biology in graduate school. The Foundation allows students who look like me to realize their potential and execute it to the absolute maximum. I truly hope you consider donating to this amazing foundation that promotes diversity among society.
Best wishes,
Jacoby Weston
Sister Thea Bowman Scholar - 2024
DePaul University, College of Science and Health
