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By Ava Steffens<\/p>\n
Scholarship recipient T\u2019Andrea Jones, a senior from Ford Heights, Illinois, is majoring in communication studies with a minor in Africana studies at Southern Illinois University. As a first-generation college student, Jones and her family were both enthusiastic about her starting her Saluki journey.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt first I thought about choosing a historically Black college or university, but I saw a lot of people who were my skin color thriving at SIU,\u201d she said. \u201cI didn\u2019t know about all of the resources SIU had for people like me.\u201d<\/p>\n
When she first arrived at SIU, Jones planned to pursue criminology but later changed her major. She credits her academic advisor with guiding her toward communication studies and says program instructors and faculty members motivated her.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt involved talking and interacting with your classmates, and I instantly fell in love with it,\u201d she said. \u201cThere are classes like persuasion, broadcasting, interpersonal communication and small group communication, and they\u2019re all so much fun.\u201d<\/p>\n
Among all the courses, content creation stood out as Jones\u2019 favorite. The class allowed her to explore media communication through digital formats such as podcasts and social media. She credits professors Dustin Greenwalt, Jonathan Gray and Benjamin Bricker for their guidance and encouragement.<\/p>\n
While enrolled in communications courses, Jones faced both personal and financial challenges. As a first\u2011generation college student, she described having a \u201clack of a blueprint\u201d when navigating life away from her family. With support from campus resources like Counseling and Psychological Services and encouragement from her professors, she applied for scholarships that allowed her to remain enrolled. Receiving those scholarships marked a turning point, improving both her mindset and overall college experience.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I got it, I was super ecstatic. It was when I first started to really feel at home at SIU, especially with my major,\u201d she said. \u201cIt makes me feel so appreciative, like I was wanted at SIU. I will be forever and graciously honored.\u201d<\/p>\n
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In addition, Jones and her family were the Saluki Family of the Year finalists. The award recognizes families of SIU students based on commitment to the university or family legacy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a top-tier experience, because I love being a Saluki,\u201d she said. \u201cMy mom was so happy, especially when she got all the SIU gear. I wear my maroon and white all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n
After graduation, Jones plans to become a peer mentor and encourage young people from her community to pursue college. She hopes to inspire others to consider careers in communication\u2011related fields.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can do so much with it, including going into public relations,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Before her senior year, Jones said she was a few thousand dollars behind on her bursar bill, which prevented her from moving into on-campus housing. She said alumni support inspires her, especially as someone who comes from a small neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt just motivated me to go even harder and encourage freshmen to pursue the field,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Jones is the recipient of the Saluki Belonging Scholarship, the Robert Carr Speech Communication Scholarship and the College of Liberal Arts Undergraduate Scholarship. Since her mother pays for schooling on her own, she said she is especially thankful for the support.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt took a big load off my mom\u2019s shoulders, since she was trying to figure out a way to pay, and it looked like I would have to take a semester off,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
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Jones is optimistic about her future. She has received job offers in her field from companies including Warner Bros. and Tyler Perry Studios. She plans to pursue a master\u2019s degree and eventually a doctorate while giving back to SIU.<\/p>\n
\u201cSIU was the perfect place for anybody who\u2019s a first-generation student,\u201d she said. \u201cThe resources that were available to help me are what got me here, and for that I will always be grateful.\u201d<\/p>\n
The College of Liberal Arts Undergraduate Scholarship is funded by a pool of multiple donors. Initiatives like this contribute to SIU\u2019s distinction as one of only 21 universities nationwide classified as both a Research 1 institution and an Opportunity University,reflecting its commitment to discovery, access and student opportunity.<\/p>\n
For those inspired by T\u2019Andrea Jones\u2019 story, supporting scholarships through the SIU Foundation is a meaningful way to invest in future Salukis. Your contribution opens pathways and helps create life\u2011changing opportunities. To give, visit siuf.org\/give<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Ava Steffens Scholarship recipient T\u2019Andrea Jones, a senior from Ford Heights, Illinois, is majoring in communication studies with a minor in Africana studies at Southern Illinois University. As a first-generation college student, Jones and her family were both enthusiastic about her starting her Saluki journey. \u201cAt first I thought about choosing a historically Black … Continue reading How scholarships helped T\u2019Andrea Jones find her voice at SIU<\/span>