Student achievement celebrated during COEHD Scholarship Awards Ceremony

For students pursuing careers in education, scholarships can make a meaningful difference, easing financial burdens while allowing them to focus on their academic and professional goals. Augusta University’s College of Education and Human Development celebrated the impact of this support on Oct. 20 during its Scholarship Awards Ceremony.

Amber Williams, a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education student, developed a passion for education years ago while working with young children at a daycare center. Caring for 3-year-olds and pre-kindergarten students helped her discover how much she enjoyed supporting children’s growth and learning.

“I’ve always loved education and working with children,” Williams said. “Helping children learn is something that brings me joy.”

Sophomore Noa Rote says she was influenced by her experiences in the Teaching as a Profession (TAP) program. Encouragement from educators and mentors helped reinforce her desire to pursue a career in teaching.

“I did TAP for two years, and there were people who really encouraged me to pursue education,” Rote said.

Like many students, Williams and Rote said scholarship support helps reduce financial stress and allows them to focus on their long-term goals, including graduate education and future careers in the classroom.

Scholarships at Augusta University are made possible through the generosity of donors who believe education can transform lives. One such example is the Frank and Sara Dennis Endowment fund.

The scholarship’s roots trace back to Frank Dennis, whose time at Augusta University’s legacy institution Augusta College and belief in the transformative power of education shaped not only his family’s values but also his vision for supporting future generations. 

Today, his daughter, Anne Trotter, serves as the family’s representative and steward of the scholarship established through her parents’ gift to Augusta University. She oversees communications related to the fund and continues to honor her parents’ vision of expanding educational opportunities for future generations.

“My father believed that a good education was the best gift you could give someone,” Trotter said. “One of the things he wanted to leave behind was support for schools and students so they could continue their education.”

For recipients, that support extends far beyond financial assistance. Rote said receiving the Frank and Alice Green Memorial Scholarship is helping her save money as she plans for graduate school, reducing the stress often associated with paying for a college education.

“It helps lessen that financial burden and gives me the opportunity to focus on my future,” Rote said. 

For Cameron Aiken, a senior kinesiology student and recipient of the COEHD Kinesiology Scholarship, the award has helped make an out-of-state education more attainable. By helping offset tuition and other expenses, the scholarship allows him to focus more fully on his academic experience and future career goals rather than the financial challenges that often accompany attending college far from home. 

“Being an out-of-state student, this scholarship has helped me tremendously with tuition and other expenses,” Aiken said. “It has reduced some of the financial pressure and allowed me to stay focused on my education and long-term goals.”

The impact of scholarships is felt not only in the classroom but also in the aspirations they help make possible. Recipients expressed gratitude for the opportunity and hope to one day pay that generosity forward.

By investing in future educators, donors like Trotter are helping ensure the next generation of teachers have the support needed to pursue their passions, serve their communities, and inspire students for years to come.