C HA R AC T ER •
HELEN’S STORY BY S Y D N E Y J ON E S ('1 9)
YOUR GIF T S MAK E UNIQUE MAR K S on the lives of students at Southern Nazarene University. Helen is a biology major, artist, and big sister. She studied abroad last year at SNU’s Quetzal Education Research Center (QERC) in Costa Rica. Helen is the first one in her family to earn a high school diploma and pursue a college degree. Helen had no idea what going to college would look like, how she would get there, or if she could succeed. Her parents are immigrants who have worked their entire lives to create opportunities for Helen and her three younger sisters. When a Physician's Assistant (PA) visited her high school during her junior year, she began to see that maybe her dream of being a part of the medical field might be possible. "I grew up in North Tulsa, kind of the beginning of the ghetto. My mom worked really hard to send my sisters and I to private Christian schools. I was intimidated by the thought of being a doctor until that PA walked into our school and shared her story. At that time I wanted to serve in the medical field and give back to my family. Being at SNU opens many doors for my younger sisters and I. Because I am at SNU, my sisters can say to themselves: "This [going to college] isn't weird or something I can't do, this is just normal. I can do this too."
WE ALL HAVE DREAMS AND THINGS WE WANT TO ACHIEVE. Helen reminds
us that our work ethic and the decisions we make everyday matter. She wants other people, especially those from similar backgrounds, to know that the three things you need to succeed and achieve your goals are God, resilience, and hope. "And even when my resilience and hope failed me, God never did." When you give to students through the SNU Fund, your investment makes a mark on each recipient. Sometimes people ask why they should give to the SNU Fund as it is not tied to a specific program of study. The response is that when you give, we can make a mark on each student, who we pray will make a mark on our world by serving Christ.
"AND EVEN WHEN MY RESILIENCE AND HOPE FAILED ME, GOD NEVER DID."
JOIN US AND MAKE YOUR MARK BY INVESTING IN STUDENTS AT SNU.
The SNU Fund directly supports SNU students—its that simple. Help us reach our goal of $300,000 by the end of June 2019 to support Helen and many other students who are recipients of scholarships from the SNU Student Scholarship Fund. Your gift today of any amount is so important. Annual Gifts of $1,000 or more qualify you as a President's Circle Member. Thank you for your willingness to give and pray for students like Helen. They’re being educated, mentored, and equipped to make a kingdom difference in the lives of others.
Give online at bridge.snu.edu/give or use the inserted envelope.
