Gwinnett Tech Student Awarded First Scholarship For Moms

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA — A scholarship for moms at Gwinnett Tech has its first-ever recipient.

Amber Aur, a health sciences student at the college, was awarded the inaugural Nana Grant on Friday. The mission of Nana Grants is to provide childcare grants to eligible student mothers attending Georgia’s public technical colleges and universities.

Aur is currently studying Diagnostic Medical Sonography. She has a 4.0 GPA and is on track to graduate spring semester 2018.

While Aur focuses on her studies her two-year-old son is enrolled and thriving at the D. Scott Hudgens, Jr. Early Education Center, located on the campus of Gwinnett Technical College.

The Nana Grant and other financial support she receives from the Gwinnett Tech Foundation allows Amber to be able to afford quality early childhood education for her son, while investing in her education as well.

"I moved to Georgia three years ago from Pennsylvania to pursue my career and make a better life," Aur said. "I don’t have any family here to help with my son. If it weren’t for the Hudgens Early Education Center I would not be able to attend school and get a career to not only make my life better, but most importantly his."

Nana Grants offers a multi-generational approach to promoting economic mobility through education. Nana Grants give single mothers the opportunity for a life-changing post-secondary education. At the same time, they ensure that children in poverty receive a high-quality early-education experience.

The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program at Gwinnett Tech is a rigorous program that requires students to take two registries – Abdomen and OBGYN. But Aur plans to push herself even further to get registered in vascular, pediatrics and breast sonography as well.

"All of these areas have great medical advances to help discover and cure pathological diseases early and to save many lives," Aur said. "I hope one day to be a travel sonographer and make a difference all around the world."

"We are so proud of Amber’s hard work, and it is an honor to support her journey," said Erica Stephens, Executive Director of Nana Grants. "I founded Nana Grants in honor of my mother and grandmother. They worked together to care for me while mom attended nursing school. It’s especially fitting that our first grant has been awarded to a health sciences student."

The Nana Grant was gifted through Gwinnett Tech Foundation, which serves to support and enhance higher education at Gwinnett Tech by helping reduce financial barriers students face as they work to reach their full potential.

"Amber is a true example of how talent and tenacity, coupled with educational opportunity can propel an individual economically," said Mary Beth Byerly, Vice President of Institutional Advancement. "Gwinnett Tech is so fortunate to have Nana Grants support for our students."

Photo courtesy Gwinnett Technical College