Calhoun Student Turns Compassion into Action and Creates Scholarship to Support Student Mothers

For many students, college is about earning a degree and preparing for a career. For Calhoun Community College student Kara Jones, it has also become a way to help others stay on track when life presents difficult choices.

Jones, who is studying general studies with a focus on social work and criminal justice, recently established a $2,000 scholarship through the Calhoun Foundation. The Supporting Moms, Supporting Students Scholarship was created to help student mothers overcome financial barriers while continuing their education.

Her passion for helping others began before she ever stepped into a college classroom. While working as a personal trainer, Jones realized her impact went far beyond physical fitness.

“I wasn’t just helping people reach their physical goals,” she said. “I was helping them push through mental and emotional barriers. That’s when I knew I wanted to do more.”

That realization led her toward a deeper calling and eventually to volunteering at the Huntsville Pregnancy Resource Center. There, she worked closely with women facing life-changing decisions after learning they were pregnant.

Jones helped connect clients with essential resources such as food, housing, and medical care. Through that experience, she noticed a gap that stayed with her.

“There were resources to help with basic needs,” she said, “but not many that supported women who wanted to continue their education.”

She began thinking about the college-bound women who feared losing scholarships or putting their education on hold because of pregnancy. The weight of that decision left a lasting impression.
“It’s hard to imagine having to choose between continuing your education and bringing a child into the world,” Jones said.

Determined to make a difference, she began researching ways to help. During that process, she came across a TED Talk titled Educate a Woman, Educate a Generation by Dr. Anupama Malag. The message reinforced what she already believed. Education has the power to change not only one life, but the lives of future generations.

Jones said she wanted to help break cycles that often leave women choosing between financial stability and starting a family. Creating a scholarship felt like a meaningful place to start.

Although she is not a mother herself, her upbringing and personal challenges have shaped her commitment to supporting others. During her freshman and mid-sophomore years at Calhoun, she battled an autoimmune disease that caused extreme fatigue and made it difficult to keep up with her studies at times. Even through those struggles, she remained focused on her goals.

She is now part of the college’s Presidential Honors Program and plans to transfer to the University of North Alabama to pursue a bachelor’s degree in social work.

Jones credits Calhoun’s social work program for helping guide her path. Through mentorship, networking opportunities, and hands-on learning experiences, she developed a deeper understanding of the field and where she fits within it. Support and guidance from her social work professors also played an important role in reinforcing her decision to pursue a career centered on helping others.

As Jones worked to establish the scholarship, she connected with Calhoun Foundation Director Johnette Davis. She expected to handle the process on her own but quickly found it was a collaborative effort that helped bring her vision to life. “Calhoun’s Foundation gave my dream a name and a voice,” Jones said. “My deep desire to help student mothers is now possible because I have a platform and a support team that can help identify those in need.”

“Kara’s compassion and determination to help others is inspiring,” said Davis. “Creating a scholarship of this magnitude while still a student reflects the genuineness of her heart and her commitment to service. It also speaks to her dedication to uplifting others who are working toward the same educational goals she is pursuing.”

Jones hopes the community will contribute to the scholarship so it can continue to grow and support more student mothers in the future. She also hopes her story encourages others to give back, no matter the amount.

Through the Calhoun Foundation, individuals have the opportunity to contribute to existing scholarships or create new ones that support Calhoun students pursuing their education.
For Jones, the goal is simple. Help one person, and let that impact grow.

To learn more about this scholarship, as well as how you can contribute to it or begin your own, visit www.calhoun.edu/foundation or call the foundation at 256-412-4088. 

All media inquiries should contact Calhoun’s Public Relations Team at 256-306-2560 or 256-306-2965.