Overcoming the Odds

Brenda Lambert’s dream is to complete her nursing degree. Having fought through cancer, divorce, a sick father, unemployment and even homelessness, she depends on scholarships to stay in school.

A first-generation college student, Brenda reminisced on when she decided to go to school: “When I was fighting cancer, I told myself, ‘If I beat the odds, I’ll go to school.’” Brenda received the Preble County Youth Foundation Bright Horizons Scholarship.

“I didn’t think I was going to be able to afford school this semester, but at the very last moment a scholarship showed up, and I was so thankful,” Brenda said. “The scholarship means everything. Without it, I couldn’t go to school. Without it, I can’t get the career I want.”