By Laura Fitzgerald
Growing up, Shelby DeVries always wanted to be a nurse. The Community Foundation’s Complete Your Degree (CYD)/High Priority (HP) Student program helped DeVries achieve that dream when she graduated with her degree as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).
Originally formed in 2017 with St. Clair County Community College (SC4), the CYD scholarship was granted to students who faced barriers to graduation.
DeVries’ scholarship helped pay for tuition, books, and other incidentals. She recently graduated debt-free from SC4, taking a huge weight off her shoulders.
Equally important to the financial support was the emotional and social support offered by Foundation staff, DeVries said. Program Officers Jessica Flann, Audrey Sochor, and the late Kevin Totty helped her navigate course requirements, transfer credits, and the complicated world of higher education.
“They really were like cheerleaders on the sidelines. I would always update them on my progress. It was nice to have them in my corner too,” DeVries said. “I remember having a meeting with them, and they were so excited for me, saying they couldn’t wait to go to my graduation. It was nice to have people outside of my own family rooting for me.”
DeVries plans to continue her education and obtain a degree as a registered nurse (RN). Eventually, she would like to work in pediatrics or labor and delivery.
“I just love it,” she said. “I never thought about doing anything else.”
Flann praised DeVries’ resilience in the face of adversity.
“Shelby is a perfect example of why we never give up on our students,” Flann said. “She knew she wanted to become a nurse and bravely entered the incredibly demanding program at SC4. Completing any nursing program is a remarkable accomplishment, and Shelby did so with determination and resilience. No matter the challenges she faced, she never gave up. She stayed committed to her goal, adjusting her path as needed in order to keep moving forward. Shelby proved she had what it takes—even if it meant changing direction along the way.”
More About the CYD/HP Scholarship Program
Since CYD was formed, the program has expanded to be eligible to any St. Clair County resident who is attending any college or trade school, with a focus on HP students.
Foundation staff use a variety of factors, along with national data and statistics, to identify scholarship recipients as “High Priority”.
Rather than traditional scholarships, which are usually given as a one-time payment at high school graduation, HP students receive support throughout their college experience for tuition, books, supplies, and various life needs. These could be expenses like rent, food, utilities, car payments, gas, etc., or unexpected items, such as car repairs, medical bills, or other financial emergencies. Support is highly individualized.
To date, 144 students have entered the CYD and HP programs and 56 students from both programs have completed a degree or trade certification, Flann said. Those graduates are now in a wide variety of fields, including nursing, engineering, fish and wildlife biology, physical therapy and law enforcement.
“The scholarship programs help our community because it gives residents the education, the skills and the training they need to contribute back to society,” Flann said.
How to Support Scholarship Funds and Students like Shelby
Nearly 40 endowed funds support various student scholarships, which include High Priority students. Donations to any of the Foundation’s scholarship funds can be made at stclairfoundation.org . To discuss establishing a new scholarship fund, please contact Foundation Vice President Jackie Hanton at (810) 984-4761 or jackie@stclairfoundation.org.