Thank You for Fueling Success Stories Like Lexi’s

During this season of gratitude, the Jimmy Rane Foundation (JRF) would like to thank its incredible community, which has made a significant impact on the lives of our scholarship recipients. Every year, through the generosity of donors and supporters, we empower students to pursue their dreams and reach new heights. Thank you to all who give your money, time, and more to help us fulfill our mission. We’re thrilled to spotlight one of our 2018 scholarship recipients, Lexi Stewart, who has experienced much success post-graduation, thanks to your support. Please continue reading to learn her story and how the Jimmy Rane Foundation has made a lasting impact on her life.

Lexi’s Journey to the Jimmy Rane Foundation Scholarship

Meet Lexi Stewart, a 2018 Jimmy Rane Foundation scholarship award recipient who has excelled in her career in the nonprofit sector. Lexi is a native of Bowling Green, KY, where she currently resides with her fiancé, Lucas. She enjoys spending time with her loved ones, including her fur babies, Rosie Lou and Honey, as well as traveling and crafting.

Lexi discovered the Jimmy Rane Foundation during the summer before her senior year of high school while searching online for various scholarship opportunities. When the application opened in December 2017, she eagerly applied for the scholarship. She was overjoyed when she learned she was selected as a 2018 Jimmy Rane Foundation scholarship recipient, knowing this financial support would be vital to her journey in higher education.

HOW THE JRF HELPED LEXI DISCOVER HER TRUE PASSION

Upon graduating high school, Lexi attended the University of Kentucky’s (UK) Gatton-Martin College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, majoring in Community and Leadership Development. Inspired by her childhood involvement in 4-H and the National Future Farmers of America organization, she initially pursued this path as a foundation for a future in law and rural community development. However, as she drew closer to taking the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), she realized her true passion was not in law but in a mission much closer to that of the Jimmy Rane Foundation – dedicating herself to nonprofit work and making a meaningful impact in communities.

Lexi states that her journey was very different from many of her college peers who worked full-time to support themselves and their college educations. She’s deeply grateful to have been supported by JRF, which enabled her to explore opportunities that reshaped her journey and unveiled her heartfelt calling. Lexi was empowered to take advantage of the resources provided by her university and fully engage in campus life – joining internships, clubs, and the Sigma Alpha Professional Agricultural Sorority. This freedom to immerse herself in her passions and interests ultimately led her to her calling in the nonprofit realm.

A GRATEFUL HEART GIVES BACK

In 2022, Lexi graduated summa cum laude from the University of Kentucky, eager to make an impact in her field. She shared that the JRF award played a great role in her decision to spend her entire career in positions that will allow her to support others. Lexi is currently the Development Coordinator at the National Corvette Museum (NCM) in Bowling Green, KY. She plays vital roles in many of the museum’s initiatives, such as fundraising for the NCM’s Collection Preservation Fund and Elfi’s Silver Pearl Sisterhood, to name a few.  

Lexi also executes various community programs in her current role, like the NCM Fund A Field Trip Program. This program provides local students who otherwise wouldn’t be able to do so the opportunity to go on an exciting field trip free of charge. Lexi stated that reigniting the Fund a Field Trip Program has been a key moment in her career, as well as having the opportunity to travel to meet and learn from professionals in the nonprofit industry.

Witnessing the impact that she’s made in her community has only ignited her passion even more. Lexi often thinks about the people who supported her during her time at the University of Kentucky and knows their impact is what led her to a fulfilling career in the nonprofit industry.

Lexi’s Warm return to the JRF Charity EVent

The Jimmy Rane Foundation proudly welcomed Lexi to the 2024 Jimmy Rane Charity Banquet and Golf Tournament as the featured alumni speaker. Lexi stated it was a “full-circle experience” to share her testimony with the people who supported her college experience and the newly awarded 2024 Jimmy Rane Foundation scholarship class. 

During her speech, Lexi made it evident that she would forever be thankful to have received scholarships from the JRF and the University of Kentucky because she felt supported through every step of her college journey. “Education saved me… not only was pursuing higher education a lifelong dream, it introduced me to myself,” stated Lexi. Having support while pursuing her college education allowed her to divert from her original path and find her true calling. She expressed that not only did the financial assistance she received empower her to discover her true calling, but it also allowed her to “step into the next chapter of her life, into adulthood, and into her career completely free of student debt.”

When asked what advice she would share with the current active JRF recipients, she said, “Remember that you deserve this award. You are smart and capable. Your story was recognized and valued. You have the support to go forward and make your dreams come true (even if you find a new dream along the way).”

Continuing the Legacy of Giving

It’s Jimmy Rane’s hope that, for many years to come, the foundation will continue to make students’ dreams of a college education a reality and that one day, those impacted by JRF will “give something back” to the next generation. Lexi’s story embodies Jimmy’s wish. With an exciting career in the nonprofit industry ahead of her, the Jimmy Rane Foundation would like to congratulate Lexi on all of her achievements and looks forward to witnessing the lasting impact she will make in her community.

To all our supporters, we hope Lexi’s story has inspired you and highlighted the profound impact of your contributions to the Jimmy Rane Foundation. Your generosity has empowered us to fulfill our mission and make a positive difference in the lives of 680 deserving recipients. Because of your support, the Foundation continues to uplift individuals driven to make the world a better place. Thank you for being a vital part of this journey.