Three Fall 2022 Scholarship Winners were motivated by others!
Regardless of why we are motivated – family, friends, challenges, emergencies – that driving force paves the way and keeps us focused.
Britney Holloway
Britney Holloway’s children inspired her to make a better life for her family. After graduating from Broadmoor Senior High School, in Baton Rouge, LA, in 2007, she cared for her children for several years before taking a job at Campus Federal Credit Union for 10 years. She soon realized her talent was helping people with information about credit, and providing knowledge to those interested in learning more about finances.
In addition, her grandmother, L. Vee McGee Berry, had graduated from the Adult Education Center (AEC) in New Orleans in 1970. The AEC was a new-concept training center for young women who wanted to use education to make a difference in their lives. The focus, determination, and confidence-building her grandmother and other young women acquired at the AEC took them into professional positions they held until retirement.
Britney realized earning her Associates of Applied Science in Accounting would, in her words, “…open many doors, enable her to help small businesses grow, counsel others on how to reach and attain their goals of financial wealth, including her family,” adding, “I want to educate those who don’t have the tools they need on how to get the tools they need for their financial well-being.”
Now registered at Delgado Community College in New Orleans for her Associates in Accounting, Britney anticipates graduating in 2024. She shared with us that her grandmother’s experience with career skills, work experience, and people who helped her, changed her life.
By way of thanks, Britney said, “Thank you for making this scholarship readily available to the community and those in need. Generations within families are truly being helped.”
Britney’s managers at Campus Federal praised her as a “truly valuable asset to the team and company as a whole,” noting her “integrity, dependability, and professionalism.”
Christian Crout
Fall 2022 Scholarship Winner, Christian Crout, graduated from Jesuit High School in New Orleans, LA in 2017 began attending the University of Louisiana at Lafayette from Fall 2017–Spring 2020, majoring in Electrical Engineering/Computer Engineering (EECE). Christian transferred to the University of New Orleans when Covid-19 began, to finish his studies, anticipating a Certificate in Computer Engineering in the Fall of 2023.
What inspired Christian? “Many things in my life inspire me,” Christian said, “but recently the most inspiring person is my stepfather. After 31 years of working as a professional, ASE Master Certified Technician, my stepdad made the courageous decision to transition to an IT Specialist. He made a tremendous commitment to taking night classes for his new career starting at IT/Networking at ComSolutions-Technical Services. Watching my dad work tirelessly for this new dream of his is absolutely awe-inspiring to me and my family!”
Since Christian was a small boy, he always wanted to build and invent new things. He told us what draws him to his area of study is the limitless potential in the field: researching new means of energy transfer, developing useful and next-stage software, or producing circuit diagrams needed for a successful project. Christian says, “My life will never be dull and I will always find new feats to accomplish. And, everything that I will do in my career will focus on directly benefiting my community.”
As president of a local nonprofit fraternity chapter, Christian added his appreciation for the 431 Exchange's “drive to promote the dream of adult education accessible to all. By paving the way for an education, the 431 Exchange helps steer Louisiana's adults to create a better and brighter future.”
Among recommendations for Christian were high praise for his professional and personal manners, his “uncommonly refreshing work ethic,” his “intellectual curiosity, maturity, and determination to get things done!”
Gayland Williams
“During the Covid outbreak, I watched how this terrible disease was ravaging the world and taking lives. Then I started noticing that the people on the front lines of the pandemic were the Respiratory Technicians. They were there from the beginning until now. They were the ones helping patients breathe. I decided I wanted to be where they were.”
Gayland’s alarm of the Covid-19 pandemic’s threat to lives gave her the courage to register at Delgado Community College in New Orleans. Her focus was solely on an Associates Degree as a Respiratory Technician. And, in her words, “What appeals to me the most about the profession is that you get to see a patient go from respiratory distress to normal breathing.”
Her commitment to becoming a Respiratory Technician is so deep she is prepared to handle the unexpected financial needs of her studies in a variety of ways.
Like the other Fall 2022 Scholarship Winners chosen, she greatly appreciates a ‘hand up’ from the 431 Exchange. Gayland’s inspiration for the 431 Exchange’s scholarship assistance is put this way, “Nonprofits aren’t obligated to do anything for profit. What they do is from the kindness of their hearts. If there were more nonprofits like this one, just imagine how much better this world would be!”
Praise came from Gayland’s employers for her work ethic, positive, helpful attitude, and her ability to work exceptionally well with others. In addition, she is described as a go-getter, always looking for ways to make things better, and giving her work ‘her all.’
The 431 Exchange is proud to add Britney Holloway, Christian Crout, and Gayland Williams to its roster of 2022 Scholarship Winners!