**HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS**

The Katie Bell Jackson Academic Scholarship was established in honor and memory of our founder’s great-grandmother, Katie Bell Jackson, who was a living example of the core values that our organization possesses. 

In the 1920s and 1930s, Katie attended school in Bullock County, Alabama but left in the ninth grade due to specific socioeconomic barriers that prevented her from attending. For 99 years until her passing in 2021, “Grandma Ma” was an active supporter of the academic success of her family. This scholarship aims to provide post-secondary support to a graduating high school senior who has excelled academically and contributed his or her talents to the improvement of the community. 

The scholarship recognizes the impact that financial assistance can have on higher education study and completion.

**Adults Over The Age Of 26**

The Focus Initiative understands the stress that is brought on by the financial burden that is posed by post-secondary education. 

Specifically, adult scholarships are more difficult to attain in contrast to students entering their freshman year in college. Adult students typically have more bills and families to support when trying to pay for school. Such students have taken fiscal, adult responsibility and do not rely on their parents for support, which is worth commending. 

Additionally, many adult students may be balancing work and college and may be making too much money to qualify for need-based federal student financial aid. Therefore, we aim to provide some assistance to those adults who aim has the desire to pursue a postsecondary institution but need a catalyst to ignite them forward.