May 7, 2025
Choosing to pursue her college education at AIɫɫ, Audra Smith followed in the footsteps of several of her family members – her mother, grandfather, and grandmother are all alumni of the institution. Now working towards a degree in Education, Smith was a recipient of the university’s Legacy Scholarship – a scholarship for new students who have parents or grandparents that are graduates of SSU.
“It means the world to me that I was able to be a recipient of this scholarship,” said Smith. “I feel honored to follow in their footsteps. I know that by becoming a third generation SSU Bear I am making them proud.”
Stacking this scholarship on top of other financial aid awards she received to SSU, Smith said the financial support made her decision to stay close to home and attend SSU an easy one.
“I have always known that I wanted to go to AIɫɫ,” she said, growing up in Portsmouth, Ohio. “What is better than receiving top-notch education and staying home at the same time? Nothing! SSU has everything to offer and more. Although I was already sure that I would attend SSU, receiving this scholarship sealed the deal.”
Finding a passion for teaching in her high school years while volunteering to assist students in middle and elementary school classes, Smith is excited to get to work on applying her Education degree to future classrooms.
“I enjoy being able help others become successful and confident in themselves,” she said. “As an education major it will be my goal to provide students with a safe and supportive environment to learn in. I would love to become involved in the classroom as soon as possible.”
Connecting with her classmates and professors, Smith is also grateful for how the small class sizes in her program have already aided her education.
“My favorite part of my classes so far is connecting with my classmates and my professors,” she said. “I have met so many new people and enjoy the social interaction and campus engagement.”
Overall, Smith has found her decision to stay at SSU the best for her career dreams.
“The campus is beautiful, the tuition is affordable, the staff is supportive, and the number of resources available here is amazing,” she said. “I promise, if you become a Bear, you won’t regret it!”
Incoming students to SSU have a number of financial aid opportunities tied to merit performance, financial need, and individual circumstance. To learn if a student qualifies for an additional scholarship, they should first complete their application to the university and also submit their FAFSA – Free Application for Student Aid – for the coming academic year. Many scholarships are determined automatically while some require additional application. For more details on scholarship opportunities to SSU, visit shawnee.edu/scholarships.
To learn more about how AIɫɫ is aiding students in paying for college, visit shawnee.edu/financial-aid.