I’m Jessica McClure.
I’m 23 years old, the mother of two, and I live off-campus with my husband. I am not what most people would call a traditional Albright student.

However, with the support of many people who put their faith in me and my desire to succeed, I am an Albright student and I will be graduating in May summa cum laude.

When I dropped out of high school to have my son I thought my dream of becoming a textile designer was over. I enrolled in community college because it was what we could afford and I worked on a degree in biology. I needed some type of degree in order to get a job and I needed it quick. But I wasn’t happy.

I so badly wanted to be a textile designer but in my young mind, I just assumed I would have to go to Philadelphia or New York to pursue the field. That is, until a friend told me about a program at Albright. I decided this was the answer to my dreams.

My husband and I knew we couldn’t afford tuition, but I had faith. I remember the day when I was accepted for fall term. And I remember reading my acceptance letter which stated that I would be receiving almost 85 percent in scholarships and grants. The Stacy D. Myers Family scholarship, a fund established from a planned gift over 20 years ago from a family I had never met before was one of my donors. It was an incredible feeling. I sat and cried. I was going to do it.

Albright and its donors have given me and my family a future.

I wouldn’t be where I am today if it hadn’t been for the generosity of Albright’s alumni and friends. And I wouldn’t be able to tell my children that their Mommy got a college degree and that they can too.

Thank you Albright for believing in me.

Sincerely,

Jessica R. McClure,
expected graduation May 2001

Albright is grateful

to its many alumni

and friends whose

generosity is

helping generations

of talented students

pursue their

academic dreams at

Albright.