For students like Porshea Johnson, a single-mother working to support her family while going to college, scholarships helped open the door to higher education. When Porshea received the Two Oaks Scholarship through Central Indiana Community Foundation, it changed her life. This scholarship, along with others, allowed her to stay in school when her class schedule came in conflict with her work schedule. She was able to make the choice to stay in school.
Nearly half—47 percent—of students enrolled in colleges and universities are “nontraditional,” meaning they are over the age of 25. While high school seniors who immediately pursue their postsecondary education have access to hundreds of scholarships, there is a lack of programming and scholarships set aside specifically for nontraditional students.
Porshea graduated from high school in 2005 and started her family soon after.
“I got married and had kids right out of high school,” Porshea says. “You have to hit your head sometimes to appreciate something. And it’s hard.”
“I just felt like I’m a conqueror, so it’s time to be that.”
After her divorce was finalized, she realized she was ready for change. Porshea left California, where she had been living, and brought her two young sons with her to Indiana.
“I knew I wanted to go to school,” says Porshea. “I was in a very low-income situation. Basically, me and my sons were homeless at that time.”
Through programming at Ivy Tech, she was able to build her resume, find on-campus employment and enroll in courses. The opportunity to attend college and set an example for her sons made Porshea feel powerful.
“I just felt like I’m a conqueror, so it’s time to be that,” says Porshea. “You have to learn how to let go of things that are going to mess your path up…You got to let people know, ‘This is my priority right now and you have to respect this. Putting up those boundaries was very helpful and just believing in yourself.”
“I wouldn’t have been able to work there and go to the classes that I needed to go to in person….I had to make that tough decision. Do I just go to work or do I just keep going?”
She worked hard both in the classroom and at her job, all the while her sons were there to watch and support her. While Porshea worked, her sons would do their homework, go to the on-campus cafe, and interact with students, faculty and staff.
“They stayed at Ivy Tech with me,” she said. “They would go from daycare and school to the library until 10 o’clock every night.”
After graduating from Ivy Tech, Porshea enrolled at IUPUI to pursue her bachelor’s degree, but she quickly discovered a problem with her schedule; her job conflicted with her classes. Porshea had a choice to make.
“I wouldn’t have been able to work there and go to the classes that I needed to go to in person….I had to make that tough decision. Do I just go to work or do I just keep going?”
Refusing to give up on her education, Porshea sought out financial support. Through her search she found the Two Oaks Scholarship, one of several scholarships offered by CICF. The Two Oaks scholarship is a renewable scholarship given to an Ivy Tech Community College graduate who has been admitted to IUPUI and plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree dedicated to helping or serving others. This assistance made it possible for Porshea to support her family while still going to school.
“My main goal is really to help people,” Porshea says. “Like what you guys are doing with Two Oaks, inspiring nontraditional students that may have come from low-income families…You have to not give up.”
Porshea graduated from IUPUI in May of 2018 with a degree in general studies and an emphasis in philanthropy. Now, she is looking forward to a family vacation and spending time relaxing and having fun with her sons.
A full list of scholarships is available in the CICF scholarship guidebook.
If you would like to create a scholarship fund, contact CICF at 317.634.2423.
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