We had the good fortune of connecting with Celestine Nixon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Celestine, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The most important factor behind the success of The Jha’Kyric Nixon Scholarship Fund is determination. “When leaving and creating a legacy worth investing in, your determination is the key factor to growth and longevity. Many of the donors who have given to The Jha’Kyric Nixon Scholarship Fund have watched me turn what some would consider a personal tragedy into a legacy of purpose and triumph. I credit my relationship with GOD and often reference the scripture Phillipians 4:13 as my motto for perseverance over these past nine years since the scholarships inception, and the ten years since my youngest son Jha’Kyric’s passing.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
The Jha’Kyric Nixon Scholarship Fund is dedicated to helping graduating high school seniors, who have a financial need, obtain a scholarship to help further their education at the collegiate level. Our goal is to help these deserving students, achieve their educational goals and ultimately better themselves and their communities. I’m most excited to see the growth of the Scholarship Fund and the direction it is going in as we approach nine years of service. My four children and grandchildren are playing a vital role in continuing the scholarship fund and ensuring that we are able to impact many lives for years through scholarships and other charitable contributions. Many of the students who have received scholarships in the past are first generation college students. Being able to provide an opportunity that was cut short for my son in his passing has been one of the motivating factors in creating and continuing the scholarship fund. I truly believe in being the change I want to see in this world. This is something that I’m most proud of, being a change agent and providing a solution to the challenges that many families face in paying for college. One of the lessons I learned along the way is that “a legacy is etched in the minds of others and the stories they share about you”. My son, to whom the scholarship is in memory of Jha’Kyric Nixon in his seventeen years and seventeen days he shared with us built bonds and relationships that have been ingrained in the hearts of those that knew him, Through this scholarship, those who didn’t know him have learned about his life and are now apart of his legacy and keeping his memory alive. Whether they are recipients of the scholarship or donors. One of the challenges we face is wanting to provide a larger scholarship award to the recipients. We rely on the generous donations of others, we plan to expand our visibility by sharing the story of Jha’Kyric’s life and the scholarship creating in his memory so that we can attract more donors and give more deserving student’s an opportunity.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I am grateful for the partnership that we cultivated with Irving Bible Church when we began the scholarship fund. They saw our vision and were willing to be a fiscal sponsor for the scholarship fund as we learned more about the non profit sector. I’m thankful for the many donors who have always answered the request to financially support the scholarship fund,since 2012. These donors have made it possible for 55 Dallas/Fort Worth area students to receive a total of over $30,000 in scholarships to help them further their education. I am thankful for the applicants who apply each year. It is a joy to know that my son Jha’Kyric, through this scholarship is still impacting lives the way he did when he was alive. I’m also thankful to be recognized over the years for the work I’ve done with the scholarship fund. Being recognized as a Helping Hands Volunteer Award winner through my employer USG. This recognition has given the scholarship fund national recognition and exposure and led to people I may have never came in contact with donating to the scholarship fund.

Website: https://sites.google.com/site/thejhakyricnixonscholarship/

Twitter: @jnixonscholars

Facebook: facebook.com/Jnixonscholars

Image Credits
Photos courtesy of The Jha’Kyric Nixon Scholarship Fund Archive

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