Two deserving students will be able to continue their educational and career goals thanks to the generosity of Troy University’s Montgomery Metro Alumni Chapter.

The chapter awarded $2,000 scholarships to a current TROY student and a recent Wetumpka High School graduate and future Trojan during an event held on May 20 at the Wynlakes home of Faith Byrd, TROY’s Director of Alumni Affairs.

Jennifer Serna, a current online TROY student who will begin her senior year at the Troy Campus in the fall, and Kallie Cook, an incoming freshman, were awarded with scholarships. Cook was unable to attend the event due to attending her high school graduation ceremony.

Serna is a first-generation college student, whose parents came to the United States from Mexico more than 20 years ago. A working student who previously chose the path of online education because of the flexibility it offered, Serna is employed by ARC Realty Co, a full-service real estate brokerage specializing in residential and commercial sales, development, relocation and comprehensive move management.  

“I’m so grateful for this scholarship,” Serna said. “It will help me continue my education and achieve my goals that I have set for my life. The biggest goal to me is to get my degree and get a job. Being the first in my family to go to college, this has been a journey for me.”

Cook, who was active in cheerleader, Student Government Association, Diamond Dolls, Mu Alpha Theta and Health Occupations Students of America during her time at Wetumpka High School, plans to pursue a nursing degree. Her goal is to become a Registered Nurse in the areas of labor and delivery or neonatal intensive care.

“This scholarship will help me financially as I continue my education at Troy University. It will help me focus on my academics in nursing school,” Cook said. “I’ve always known that I wanted to be a nurse. I have done a lot of babysitting and love babies, and I think focusing on that aspect of nursing would be very cool.”

The Montgomery Metro Alumni Chapter uses funds from its annual golf tournament to help fund the annual scholarship awards. This year’s tournament is set for Oct. 23 at the Arrowhead Country Club.

Jack Weaver, President of the Troy University Alumni Association Board of Directors, attended the event and expressed his gratitude to the members of the Montgomery Metro Alumni Chapter for their continued support of students through the awarding of scholarships.

“The Alumni Board sees scholarships as the biggest need,” Weaver said. “We are dedicated to providing as many scholarships as we possibly can for students to come to Troy University to get an education. We are committed to students not just coming to get a degree but to get a degree that will enable them to go to the working world and be successful. We all love TROY because of what it has meant to us and provided for us, and now it is time for us in our positions in life to give back.”

Montgomery Metro Alumni Chapter officers are Bryan Hubbard, President; Johnny Weatherford, Treasurer; and Carol Coleman, Scholarship Chair. Chapter Board members are Trey Johns, Dalton Cates, Liz Cole, Anita Griffin and Billy Whigham.