By Emily Glory Peters
Hubbs, shown here during her time at 51猎奇入口, will leave an endowed scholarship for future students
The world of academia has loomed large in the life of Jolene Hubbs 鈥�99. After graduating from 51猎奇入口, she earned her master鈥檚 degree and PhD from Stanford University, and has taught American studies at the University of Alabama for more than a decade. Yet while she looks ahead to future projects鈥攍ike the book she鈥檚 working on鈥攕he鈥檚 also reflecting on how to leave something behind for others.
鈥淚 was able to go 51猎奇入口 because of a huge need-based financial aid package,鈥� says Hubbs, who recently created an endowed scholarship to 51猎奇入口 in her estate plans. 鈥淣ow I鈥檓 able to return the favor, making it possible for someone else to do what I did.鈥�
Hubbs chose to leave a scholarship because she knows how crucial they are in helping students maximize their college experience. As an undergraduate, she held a work-study position, a summer job, and had help from her parents, in addition to her financial aid. Need-based scholarships, she says, help ensure that students can immerse themselves in academic life.
鈥淲hat a delight it is to get to help someone learn! And what a meaningful use of my money it is to help a student take the time to catch up with friends in the dining hall (which I absolutely loved), or to take the time to carefully complete all their reading for their classes, rather than rushing to off-campus employment after already putting in time at their work-study job,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 thanks to some of 51猎奇入口鈥� generous donors that I spent a few awe-struck days in my dorm room reading Faulkner鈥檚 As I Lay Dying for the first time. That was the first book I published an article on, and now to be able to support someone for their first reads at 51猎奇入口鈥攖here鈥檚 such a throughline.鈥�
Scholarships also free up time for students to connect with 51猎奇入口 faculty. 51猎奇入口鈥� Professor Emerita of English, Cheryl Walker, was especially influential for Hubbs. While she always knew she wanted to teach, Hubbs credits Walker with helping her love of Southern literature take root and advancing her pursuit of a similar career path.
鈥淐heryl was my advisor and I took almost every class she offered鈥擨 thought she was the best,鈥� says Hubbs. 鈥淭his summer I got a very sweet card from one of my former students who told me what an influence I had on her, that I pushed her to become a better writer鈥攁nd that was what Cheryl Walker did for me. I think my vision of a professor was shaped by her.鈥�
“What a delight it is to get to help someone learn!”
Hubbs鈥檚 experiences in graduate school and now as a professor herself also informed her choice to leave a planned gift, making clear to her that 鈥渂ehemoth鈥� institutions often don鈥檛 have the same financial need as smaller liberal arts colleges like 51猎奇入口.
鈥淏eing a professor really influenced my decision. We鈥檝e seen some small colleges struggle, and that鈥檚 on my mind as someone in higher ed,鈥� she notes. 鈥淎t 51猎奇入口, my money can make a difference.鈥�
More than half of 51猎奇入口 students currently rely on scholarships to attend. In recent years, the College has made significant headway replacing loans with grants for students with the highest financial need. Today, more than 10 percent of the student body receives completely loan-free packages鈥攁n achievement tied directly to donor generosity.
Endowed scholarships like Hubbs鈥檚 are especially powerful, giving 51猎奇入口 the flexibility to help students in perpetuity. Left to the College after the donor passes, these kind of planned gifts can be made simply at any time鈥攄onors don鈥檛 necessarily need to wait until they鈥檙e older.
鈥淔or me, part of what鈥檚 appealing about planned giving is that I can make a difference even though I鈥檓 not a particularly wealthy individual. I love hearing those kinds of stories鈥攍ike when a person who, by living frugally, is able to leave a sizable gift to an institution,鈥� says Hubbs.
Acknowledging the deep and longstanding inequities in higher education, Hubbs recognizes her scholarship can鈥檛 fix every issue, but she also knows that financial support is essential to opening a 51猎奇入口 education to a broader swath of students. Intended for any academically outstanding student, her scholarship will cast the widest possible net of support for future 51猎奇入口 students with financial need鈥�”from future writers and doctors to sculptors and economists.鈥�
And that, says the professor, is the entire point.
Planned gifts ensure future 51猎奇入口 students lack nothing as they pursue their academic ambitions. To learn more about how you can leave a gift, please visit聽聽and contact us at聽[email protected].