Jenny Brunner was dealing with declining health and an undiagnosed heart condition when an email arrived announcing that she was being awarded a Bright Promise Scholarship.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just thought it was the coolest thing. I was so excited,\u201d recalls Jenny, a 20-year-old from Spokane Valley who arrived at Eastern Washington University with two years of Running Start credits under her belt.<\/p>\n
The half-tuition scholarship arrived just in time to help Jenny finish her senior year and graduate with the class of 2022.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy health was getting worse. Before I was even diagnosed, I was at the point where I was too unhealthy to work anymore,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
\u201cBetween the academic scholarship I got from Eastern and the Bright Promise Scholarship, that covered everything. I didn\u2019t have to work at all, which was really amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since its launch in 2008, the Bright Promise Program has helped more than 300 EWU and Community Colleges of Spokane students earn their degrees. Spearheaded by Associated Industries and its CEO, Eastern alumnus Jim DeWalt, in partnership with Seattle-based Advanced Professional Insurance and Benefit Solutions and its president, Keith VanderZanden, the fund provides half-tuition scholarships to students earning degrees in education, health sciences, business, technology and manufacturing.<\/p>\n
When the scholarship arrived, Jenny was in the midst of a medical crisis that resulted in a dozen visits to the emergency room, some 50 doctor and specialist visits, multiple scans and five weeks of wearing a heart monitor 24-7.<\/p>\n
Finally, Jenny was diagnosed with supra ventricular tachycardia and postural orthostatic tachycardia. She underwent a first heart surgery in April \u2013 and didn\u2019t miss a beat in earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in finance and marketing in June. Just days after donning a cap and gown, she underwent a second heart surgery. Throughout the entire ordeal, Jenny missed just one class.<\/p>\n
With plans to become a wealth advisor and establish her own practice, Jenny appreciates the scholarship support that helped her realize her goal of a debt-free degree.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was definitely empowering,\u201d Jenny says, adding, \u201cIt was a bright thing at a bad time.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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