AT&T Scholarship helps mother of four realize career dreams
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Yale, Okla. woman thanks corporation and physician for inspiring dreams
“Thanks to its generosity and its long-held commitment to education, AT&T opened up opportunities for more than 1,000 OSU students through its transfer scholar program,” said OSU President Burns Hargis. “We commend AT&T on the lasting impact it is having on OSU transfer students and on the future of Oklahoma.”
Joyce Blewett of Yale, Okla. is a single mother of four who never thought a college degree was in her future – let alone graduate school and CPA certification. Yet, inspiration from an unlikely friend coupled with financial support in the form of a transfer scholarship changed her dreams into reality.
“Through a generous donation of a desperately needed surgical procedure an Oklahoma doctor became my mentor and friend,” Blewett said. “I found out that he was also from a working-class blue-collar family who was the first person in his family to attend college, which he paid for through his own hard work. I thought to myself that if Oklahoma State University can transform this man into such a fine, compassionate and successful individual, then I just had to find a way to get there.”
Her inspiration came from 2000 OSU Center for Health Sciences graduate Dr. Ronald Holley, a Tulsa eye surgeon, whose generosity motivated Blewett to return to school so she could be in a position to help others one day. Thus, Blewett enrolled at Tulsa Community College where she graduated with several honors including an AT&T transfer scholarship allowing her to continue her accounting education at OSU. She is now interning at one of the largest accounting firms in the country, Grant Thornton LLP, and will continue her studies in graduate school after she graduates in December.
Since 2005 the AT&T transfer scholars program has added a significant number of technology-trained students to the Oklahoma workforce and has assisted more than a 1,000 students through Oklahoma State University in the last three years. Additionally, AT&T scholars consistently outperform other undergraduate students in the classroom boasting an average GPA of 3.53 versus 2.94.
“I am so grateful to be able to say ‘thank you’ to AT&T from the bottom of my heart,” said Blewett. “Through this scholarship I am realizing my educational and career goals, inspiring my children to work hard and invest in themselves, and together we are sowing life, love and a better tomorrow into our community.”
The Oklahoma State University Foundation serves as the private fundraising organization for OSU, as designated by the OSU Regents. Its mission is to unite donor and university passions and priorities to achieve excellence.
For more information on the OSU Foundation, log on to our Web site at www.osugiving.com or call 405-385-5100.