Scholarship Awarded To Columbia College Student

Columbia, CA — The Future Promise Scholarship is not limited to students´ standard academic performance, but is meant instead to identify those with visionary qualities.

The scholarship recognizes a combination of intelligence, creativity, and ethical curiosity and concern. Jessica Filley of Oakdale was named as this year´s recipient of the $2,000 scholarship.

The non-traditional scholarship was created by and is funded annually through Dr. Paula Clarke and Professor Ted Hamilton, both instructors at Columbia College. One of Filley´s goals is to establish a children´s retreat center.

She teaches a downtown Sonora yoga class for parents and children. She is interested in sustainable gardening and would like to create a community-oriented organization for families for that purpose.

She would also like to access funds for low income families by taking grant writing classes. Originally from Lakeville, Indiana, Filley plans on returning to her home state someday as a teacher.

“I want to share the wealth of knowledge I have gained from Columbia College, the Sonora community, and California with those in my hometown in Indiana,” she said. “Everyone here has played a lasting role my development.”

Written by Sabrina Sabbagh

Everyone here has played a lasting role my development