When Lucy Barrow, a senior American studies and journalism double-major, decided to attend The University of Alabama, she made a deal with her parents. The Gulf Breeze, Florida, native said it was the same promise her older brother made three years before he came to UA in 2015.
“Being an out-of-state student is very expensive,” Lucy said. “Even if you have good grades or get scholarships, out-of-state tuition is a hefty amount of money to have to deal with. The deal our parents had was that my brother and I could go to an out-of-state school if we made up half of tuition in scholarships.”
Rising to the challenge, both Lucy and her brother were awarded the Carl and Ann Jones Regions Endowed Scholarship. The endowment highlights Carl’s position as the retired president of Regions Bank and Ann’s love of education, as she is a retired teacher. Both are alumni of the Capstone and are members of the President’s Cabinet.
“This scholarship has completely changed the game for me and my parents,” Lucy said. “Without it, I wouldn’t have been able to come to Alabama.”
Additionally, the Jones’ endowed scholarship has allowed Lucy to pursue an accelerated master’s degree in American studies.
“Combined with my other scholarships, the Jones’ scholarship helped cover all of my undergraduate degree, so I knew I was going to be able to attend to graduate school,” she said. “I can further my education because of their gift.”
For Lucy, UA’s dedicated faculty has also transformed her education. She praised Communications and Information Sciences professor Rick Bragg and American studies professor Stacy Morgan for encouraging and fostering her interest in writing and research.
“I love the way Alabama offers not just basic general education courses that you have to take to graduate, but they offer so many different programs,” Lucy said. “UA faculty get to know their students, and they take the initiative to understand their students’ goals and what they’re trying to do.”
Lucy said Rick’s class was life-changing and was the first time she felt truly pushed to succeed. Meanwhile, it was Stacy’s faith in her abilities which encouraged Lucy to begin the accelerated master’s program.
“I never would have known about the program if Dr. Morgan had not told me,” she said. “This has been a really great opportunity because I didn’t even realize how much I loved to write and do research like this until I started this program.”
The annual Jones Scholarship luncheon also gave Lucy an unforgettable opportunity to gain insight into the care that Carl and Ann put into their students.
“They help so many students go to school,” she said. “I feel like this is such a unique opportunity because unlike a lot of other scholarships, you get to sit down and have lunch with the person who’s helping you. To put a face to that name is incredible.”
Lucy said the Jones’ also “truly care about all of their scholarship recipients,” and take joy in getting to meet with their students every year.
Because of the Jones’ generosity, Lucy will graduate with her undergraduate degree in May 2022 and her master’s degree in 2023.
“Right now, my future is a shot in the dark, so we’ll see where I end up,” Lucy laughed. “I hope to go New York and be a long-form magazine writer. I love to meet new people, and I love to try new things, so I’m very open to do anything. I’m beyond thankful that I even get this opportunity because I know so many people don’t. To be able to find my passion and pursue it because of the Jones’ gift is incredible.”
