Jenny Brunner was dealing with declining health and an undiagnosed heart condition when an email arrived announcing that she was being awarded a Bright Promise Scholarship.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just thought it was the coolest thing. I was so excited,\u201d recalls Jenny, a 20-year-old from Spokane Valley who arrived at 51¸£ÀûÉç with two years of Running Start credits under her belt.<\/p>\n
The half-tuition scholarship arrived just in time to help Jenny finish her senior year and graduate with the class of 2022.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy health was getting worse. Before I was even diagnosed, I was at the point where I was too unhealthy to work anymore,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
\u201cBetween the academic scholarship I got from Eastern and the Bright Promise Scholarship, that covered everything. I didn\u2019t have to work at all, which was really amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since its launch in 2008, the Bright Promise Program has helped more than 300 51¸£ÀûÉç and Community Colleges of Spokane students earn their degrees. Spearheaded by Associated Industries and its CEO, Eastern alumnus Jim DeWalt, in partnership with Seattle-based Advanced Professional Insurance and Benefit Solutions and its president, Keith VanderZanden, the fund provides half-tuition scholarships to students earning degrees in education, health sciences, business, technology and manufacturing.<\/p>\n
When the scholarship arrived, Jenny was in the midst of a medical crisis that resulted in a dozen visits to the emergency room, some 50 doctor and specialist visits, multiple scans and five weeks of wearing a heart monitor 24-7.<\/p>\n
Finally, Jenny was diagnosed with supra ventricular tachycardia and postural orthostatic tachycardia. She underwent a first heart surgery in April \u2013 and didn\u2019t miss a beat in earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in finance and marketing in June. Just days after donning a cap and gown, she underwent a second heart surgery. Throughout the entire ordeal, Jenny missed just one class.<\/p>\n
With plans to become a wealth advisor and establish her own practice, Jenny appreciates the scholarship support that helped her realize her goal of a debt-free degree.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was definitely empowering,\u201d Jenny says, adding, \u201cIt was a bright thing at a bad time.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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