Making college dreams a reality

A new group of 13 BJC Scholars embarked upon their college journey this fall, with support from BJC HealthCare and The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis.

This year's class marks the eighth cohort of BJC Scholars who are living their dream of receiving a college education, thanks to a fund created in recognition of the correlation between higher education, better health and longer lives.

The $12,000 annually renewable scholarship is designed to support local high school seniors in pursuit of higher education.

"At BJC we believe that education opens the door to not just future employment, but to more opportunities in life and, ultimately, to better health outcomes," says BJC Health System Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging vice president Steven Player, PharmD. "It is incredibly gratifying and humbling to be a part of creating pathways for the greater benefit of those who live in the communities we serve."

BJC and The Scholarship Foundation celebrated this year's Scholars during a community-wide event in August for all newly awarded Foundation students, families and scholarship funders. The half-day conference featured an award ceremony luncheon and breakout sessions, while key scholarship partners, including BJC, provided information to attendees about opportunities at their organizations.

Lauren Nash Ming, past president of the board of The Scholarship Foundation, introduced the new BJC Scholars in the August ceremony: “At The Scholarship Foundation, we know education and health are closely related. We’re lucky to partner with BJC HealthCare on this scholarship program, which was established in response to community needs identified by the Ferguson Commission. This program supports high school seniors who reside in counties where BJC hospitals are located. More than 100 students have been awarded to date, and 13 join them today.”

BJC created the BJC Scholars Fund in response to regional community needs identified by the Ferguson Commission and For the Sake of All, and in recognition of the critical correlation between higher education, better health outcomes and greater longevity.

The BJC Scholars Fund offers need-based awards of up to $12,000 per academic year to high school seniors planning to pursue a two- or four-year degree at a public Missouri or Illinois state college or university or a school with tuition reciprocity, as well as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) located outside of Missouri and Illinois. (See more below.)

The annually renewable scholarship can be applied toward tuition, fees, room and board, transportation, and incidental costs. In its eighth year, the fund has already supported 109 students at institutions of higher learning.

The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis administers all aspects of the program and supports the awardees and their families in taking full advantage of other state, federal and institutional funds to which students are entitled, to ensure that the BJC scholarship award completes the funding required for full year attendance. The Foundation also provides ongoing support that includes advising, workshops, financial aid counseling, participation in paid internship programs and additional funding opportunities if relevant.

One of this year's Scholars, Alana Wilson, is also the newest June McAllister Fowler BJC Scholar.

Named after former BJC HealthCare senior vice president of Communications and Marketing, the June McAllister Fowler Scholarship was established by BJC upon Fowler's retirement in late 2021. Fowler was instrumental in bringing together the key partners to launch the BJC Scholars program and secure ongoing funding.

"This scholarship means a lot for my future," says Alana, who graduated from KIPP St. Louis High School and is now attending Missouri State University. "This scholarship will ease the stress on both me and my parents by helping take some of the weight off our shoulders. I am so very grateful to have been a chosen recipient."

Alana plans to pursue a bachelor's degree in psychology and ultimately earn a master's degree. She also plans to minor in acting and appreciates the mental and emotional outlets she gains through acting.

As the oldest of four children, Alana says she often had to step in as a "second mother" to her siblings while her mother worked. She notes that her mother, who was unable to graduate from college, would love to see Alana achieve her dream of doing so.

"My mom will always be my inspiration and the person who guides my ambitious journey to and through college," Alana says.

Alana's childhood was made stressful by several periods of homelessness. She says she hopes to eventually use her experiences and education to provide mental health care to children or those who are experiencing homelessness.

"I've learned that my trauma doesn't define me but is what strengthens me," she says. "It allows me to connect with others on a deeper level and I plan to use that skill to continue to help myself and others ... I know the struggle and I want to help as many people out of it as I can."

BJC strengthened its commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, both locally and beyond the borders of Missouri and Illinois, by expanding the BJC Scholars fund to students choosing HBCUs outside their home states.

"The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis shared with us the interest from scholarship applicants in attending HBCUs," says Player. "Grounded in our desire to play a meaningful role in closing the wealth opportunity gap and increasing the diversity of future talent for our organization, BJC has leveraged that opportunity, expanding our reach to students planning to enroll in Historically Black Colleges and Universities."

Two BJC Scholars are attending HBCUs this academic year — a 2024 Scholar at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri, and a renewing Scholar at Alabama A&M in Huntsville, Alabama. Player adds that BJC anticipates an increase in HBCUs as schools of choice for BJC Scholars now that the option will be more broadly promoted.

He also notes that the more than 100 HBCUs across the country continue to play a critical role in ensuring that African Americans — and students of all races — receive a quality education that prepares them for success.

"This longstanding legacy has helped to shape, train and prepare some of the nation’s greatest visionaries, public servants and trailblazers," Player says. "In fact, HBCUs produce 70% of all Black doctors in our country, along with 40% of all Black engineers and 50% of all Black lawyers, all professions that we are proud to hire, grow and develop within BJC.

"By evolving the BJC Scholars Fund in such a way that further enables students planning to attend any HBCU the ability to apply, we are expanding the opportunities for many who may not have seen — or much less had the means to obtain — a college education in an environment where they felt fully supported and experienced belonging, all while receiving an amazing educational experience overall," Player adds. "The scholarship continues to be a tangible example of our dedication to the communities that we serve."

Congratulations to the 2024-2025 BJC Scholars

Abigail Roth
St. Charles County
University of Missouri-Columbia

Alana Wilson
St. Louis
Missouri State University

Allison Ryerson
Crawford County
University of Missouri-St. Louis

Charlye Moody
St. Louis County
University of Missouri-Columbia

Gabriela Hernandez Ceballos
Madison County
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Kaitlyn Schebaum
Franklin County
University of Missouri-Kansas City

Kassandra Martinez-Rivera
St. Louis County
University of Missouri-Kansas City

Kiley Moon
St. Francois County
University of Missouri-Columbia

Robert Green IV
St. Louis County
Missouri University of Science and Technology

Ryan Kline
St. Louis County
University of Missouri-Columbia

Ta'Kyra Tally
St. Louis County
Lincoln University

Taylor Brown
St. Louis
University of Missouri-Columbia

One student chose not to be listed.