SUCCESS STORIES
Jockuela Ballard
Jockuela is a young woman of remarkable perseverance and strength. At a young age, Jockuela's mother was not able to care for her because of chronic substance abuse. She soon moved in with her great-grandmother who raised her and her younger brother. When her great-grandmother became ill, Jockulela missed school to take care of everything. Her social worker, Anca Bujes, knew that young Jockuela deserved better care and placed Jockuela with her cheerleading coach. In this new placement, Jockuela began to thrive.
She excelled in school, improved her GPA, and with the help of her foster family began researching colleges for Jockuela to attend. After extensive research, they found a small historical black college in North Carolina that is well suited to Jockuela's needs. She is now in her second year at Johnson C. Smith University where she continues to fulfill her dreams, Jockuela will be the first person in her family to complete college.
Jockuela was the 2010 recipient of the Sari Wade Memorial Scholarship.
