PASSAGE Student Receives John Simpson Memorial Scholarship
Posted on May 25, 2021 by Micaela Pickering
Hannah James, a PASSAGE USA student and member of the South Alabama Campus Civitan Student Association, received the 2021 John Simpson Memorial Scholarship. The applicants for the scholarship were reviewed by the Alabama-West Florida Civitan District Board of Directors, and James was selected for this year’s award.
James started her first year at the University of South Alabama in fall 2020. She attended high school at Shelton Academy in Mobile, Ala. Faculty describe her personality as charming and gregarious. During her first year at South, James enrolled in courses with an equivalent of 15 hours per semester. She also held a job on campus for two semesters working an average of 10 hours each week.
“If you ever walk by the College of Education and Professional Studies picnic tables and hear a group of people laughing and socializing, there is a high probability chance that Hannah is part of the group,”Alexandra Chanto-Wetter said.
Everyone who knows James knows that she loves to help others and make a difference.
“I believe in helping all my friends with and without special needs,” James said. “For example, in the fall semester, I went to visit one of my friends with special needs. I helped her clear her apartment and prepared some food. She needed help cooking lunch and dinner. I made her a pizza for lunch, and for dinner, I made chicken and vegetables.”
In addition to her classes and on-campus job, James also participates in extracurricular activities. Because of the pandemic, extracurricular activities looked a little different this year. In January, she attended a South Alabama Civitan Student Association meeting and signed up to help the Learning Tree gather Covid-19 supplies to help those in need.
“Due to Covid-19, we have limited options for extracurricular activities,” James said. “However, I tried to schedule Zoom tutoring with classmates. In the fall, I helped one of my friends in PASSAGE USA with her homework during the weekend.”
James joined the Civitan student organization because she was inspired by her grandmother and wanted to follow in her footsteps. Other activities that James has participated in include feeding homeless women and preparing food at the McKinney House.
“I believe that after Covid-19, I would like to organize an activity where my friends and I can volunteer to feed the homeless women and prepare food for them,” James said.
Each year, the Alabama-West Florida Civitan District awards two $1,000 scholarships: one to a high school senior and one to a college student who is currently enrolled in any accredited college, university, or technical school, or who intends to enroll by the next spring semester or quarter. Recommendations for the scholarship are required.
For full PASSAGE USA eligibility requirements or to receive an application, contact Alexandra Chanto-Wetter at (251) 460-7558 or chantowetter@southalabama.edu. To contribute to the PASSAGE USA scholarship fund, click here.