The Jimmy Rane Foundation Family Is Heading Back To School
Fall is approaching, which means our Jimmy Rane Foundation (JRF) family is returning to school from summer break. The Jimmy Rane Foundation has 220 active recipients returning to school for the fall 2024 semester. Click here to view a breakdown of how many active students are enrolled in institutions within each state. They attend over 80 universities and colleges across the United States.
Our recipients have taken full advantage of their open schedule this summer. We’d love to share some of their summer activities, as well as the goals they aim to achieve in the upcoming school year. Continue reading to learn more about the following JRF Class of 2021 and 2022 recipients: Malik Cooper, Bailey Ellison, Addi Garrott, Crystal Lyons, and Zach Mosier.
Malik Cooper - JRF Class of 2022
Malik Cooper, Jimmy Rane Foundation scholar from Frisco City, AL, attends the University of Alabama. He studies Public Health and is looking forward to another successful year in Tuscaloosa.
At the University of Alabama, Malik has taken many opportunities to give back to his college community. One of his favorite service roles includes being a peer coach through the Capstone Center for Student Success. In this role, Malik worked with students on scholarship advisory to help them get back on track to earning their scholarships. The scholarship advisory period gives students who did not meet the academic requirements to maintain their scholarship a final chance to meet the requirements before they lose their scholarship.
Malik will continue serving his campus in the upcoming year as a Supplemental Instruction (SI) Leader. He will be a SI leader for the BSC 114: Principles of Biology course. His academic success, such as being on the President’s List in the fall and the Dean’s List in the spring, and his many campus leadership roles made him the ideal candidate for this role.
He was also selected to serve as the President of the Eta Sigma Gamma National Health Education Honorary.
Malik says, “These achievements are a testament to the profound impact your scholarship has had on my academic journey.”
The Jimmy Rane Foundation is proud of Malik and his incredible impact at the University of Alabama. His many accomplishments are a testament to his commitment to excellence, leadership, and service. The Foundation looks forward to witnessing Malik’s journey throughout the upcoming year!
Please enjoy the above images from Malik documenting his time thus far at the University of Alabama!
BAILEY ELLISON - JRF CLASS OF 2022
Jimmy Rane Foundation scholar Bailey Ellison of Eufaula, AL, is prepared to enter her third year of college. She attends Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC), working toward earning two majors: Agribusiness and Agricultural Technology Management (ATM).
Campus and community involvement is important to Bailey. She currently holds officer positions in the ABAC Agripreneurs and the ABAC Collegiate Young Farmers and Ranchers organizations at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.
Bailey is also a member of the Sigma Alpha sorority. The sorority's philanthropy, "Ag in the Community," provides many opportunities for her to serve the local community. Bailey's community involvement through Sigma Alpha includes volunteering at animal shelters, donating to a “Book Box” outside the public library, and teaching local elementary students about agriculture.
This summer, Bailey completed a 10-week internship at J&M Dozer Service, Inc., in Pensacola, FL. She learned how to make financial analyses and about various customer service practices. Bailey worked closely with the Financial Manager to learn financial tracking methods to monitor the company's cash flow. Additionally, she was able to build on her knowledge regarding equipment operations.
Bailey's community involvement and passion for her field are commendable. The JRF is proud of her and cannot wait to see where her path takes her!
Please enjoy the above images from Bailey documenting her experience at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College!
ADDI GARROTT - JRF CLASS OF 2021
JRF scholar Addi Garrott is from Troy, AL. Entering her senior year at Auburn University, she’s pursuing a degree in Speech Language and Hearing Sciences with a minor in Spanish. She plans to attend graduate school to further her education and become a Speech-Language Pathologist upon graduation.
Addi discovered her passion for speech therapy while attending Auburn. She's active in many clubs, such as the National Student Speech Language and Hearing Association (NSSLHA), the Spanish Club, and the American Sign Language Club. “These programs have allowed me to better my understanding of different aspects of my career, and I cannot wait to utilize what I have learned in my career one day,” says Addi.
Additionally, she will be an Undergraduate Research Fellow at Auburn through the Speech, Language, and Literacy Achievement for Children (SLLAC) lab. Addi has also maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout her degree plan thus far.
When sharing how the Jimmy Rane Foundation has impacted her educational journey, Addi says, “I have never felt more encouraged to work hard and succeed at my goals than I do now, and that is because of your foundation’s support.”
We remain impressed by Addi and all that she has accomplished during her time at Auburn University. Her path is an inspiring one, and we are grateful to play a small part in it!
Please enjoy the above images from Addi documenting her experience in various organizations while at Auburn University!
CRYSTAL LYONS - JRF CLASS OF 2021
Crystal Lyons of Baconton, GA, was awarded a Jimmy Rane Foundation Scholarship in 2021. She attends The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), majoring in Psychology and minoring in Conflict Management. Once Crystal completes her education, she plans to begin her career in Forensic Psychology.
Crystal said, “I have been able to finally find a career that I am passionate about and, more importantly, that can be a service to the world.”
This summer, Crystal embarked on a community outreach trip with her cohort to serve the Kamonyi District in Rwanda, Africa. She taught young children at the local academy and distributed necessities such as food, shoes, and toiletry items to those in need. Crystal also had the opportunity to immerse herself in the local culture. She and her fellow UNC psychology peers shopped at local markets, explored the safari in Tanzania, took a pottery class from local artisans, and much more.
Additionally, Crystal completed an internship this summer, during which she gained insight and experience in Forensic Psychology. Her assignments included reviewing cases and researching unintentional biases that may exist among psychologists. Her research will reveal how those biases can impact the evaluation and treatment of clients.
The Jimmy Rane Foundation is proud of Crystal and her accomplishments. We look forward to hearing from her regarding her upcoming year at UNC!
Please enjoy the above images provided by Crystal documenting her time in Africa and at UNC.
ZACH MOSIER - JRF CLASS OF 2022
Zach Mosier of Kersey, PA, is a Pennsylvania State University student pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He’s been a member of the JRF family since 2022.
Over the past school year, Zach balanced his time across coursework, research, and Nittany Motorsports (NM). Nittany Motorsports is a student organization at Penn State responsible for designing and producing a formula-style race car to compete at the Formula SAE competition at Michigan International Speedway. Through NM, he uses computer-aided design (CAD) to create 3-D solid model renderings of the race car and its various parts. Zach greatly values his membership in the organization, providing him with incredible real-world experiences in his field.
Zack has experienced much success during his time at Penn State so far.
Zack says, “I wouldn’t be able to participate in applied research, clubs like Nittany Motorsports, or even take classes without the generosity of others who were willing to provide scholarship opportunities.”
The Jimmy Rane Foundation is very proud of his accomplishments! We know he has a bright future ahead.
Please enjoy the above images provided by Zack showing some of his work through Nittany Motorsports.
“IT’S about giving something back”
The Jimmy Rane Foundation is “about giving something back.” It’s evident that our recipients live out our mission with us. From internships to community outreach experiences, our bright scholars have had a meaningful summer break. We remain inspired by their accomplishments and goals, and we know that they each have what it takes to be successful in reaching them.
Malik Cooper, JRF Class of 2022, says, “I am committed to making a positive difference in the world, and your generosity has empowered me to pursue my dreams with determination and gratitude.”
And that is why we do what we do.
We hope to continue making students’ dreams of a college education a reality for many years to come. Please continue to work alongside us to fulfill our mission of providing college scholarships to deserving students and strengthening our communities through education projects and grants. With your help, it will be possible. Learn how to support the Jimmy Rane Foundation today!