LCON Students Awarded at A Step Ahead Foundation's Scholarship Drive-Thru Event

June 27, 2025 – On a hot and joyful summer afternoon, the Step Ahead Foundation hosted its annual Scholarship Drive-Thru event at 2400 Union Avenue, where students from across the Mid-South, including several from the Loewenberg College of Nursing (LCON), received scholarship checks in a lively and heartwarming celebration of their academic journeys.

From 12:00 to 1:30 p.m., upbeat music, frozen Mempops, financial literacy support from Orion Financial Credit Union, and the sounds of cheers filled the air as students drove up to claim their scholarship awards. The atmosphere was festive and full of encouragement. Representing LCON, Dr. Jeremy Whittaker and Alex Dejarnatt joined the celebration, enthusiastically cheering students on as they rolled through the line, offering congratulations and words of support.

A Step Ahead Foundation (ASAF) is a Memphis-based nonprofit founded in 2011 by Claudia Haltom. Now led by Executive Director Nikki Gibbs and a dedicated team, ASAF empowers women by providing access to education, reproductive healthcare, and support services. Each year, the foundation awards scholarships and resources to help students achieve their academic and career goals.

LCON has proudly partnered with the Step Ahead Foundation for several years to help expand educational access and success in nursing. Each year, the Loewenberg family, namesakes of the College, continues to play a meaningful role in contributing to the scholarship funds awarded, continuing their enduring legacy of investing in the next generation of compassionate healthcare professionals.

"The energy was incredible," stated Dr. Whittaker. "You could feel how proud and excited these students were. It’s moments like this that remind us why we do this work, and we look forward to expanding our scope of collective impact efforts with the ASAF.

The annual drive-thru continues to be a shining example of how community partnerships and support can uplift students and make a lasting difference.