Post by Joelle McMillan

Last year I founded a scholarship. This past week, I awarded it for the first time! I founded the Jaki Gonzalez Spirit of Excellence Scholarship — a 501(c)(3) non-profit — to honor the life and legacy of a young woman I graduated high school with and have long admired. Building something lasting in her name, alongside her family, has been one of the most meaningful things I've worked on. Congratulations to our first recipient, Charlene Hernandez! Charlene stood out from a competitive pool of applicants — we can't wait to see what's ahead for her. I've had the opportunity to build this organization from the ground up — from obtaining non-profit status to developing our website, where you can read more about Jaki's story and our mission. Link in the comments. Education has the power to change the trajectory of someone's life — and that's something worth investing in. As a small non-profit, every bit of support goes a long way. If this resonates with you, we'd be grateful for a share, a visit to the site, or a donation. Thank you!