Scholarship Recipient: Jessica Buford ‘24

Tell us about your journey to HSU.

My journey to HSU is an interesting one. I grew up in a small town west of Houston and had only ever heard of Abilene thanks to a couple of country songs on the radio. When it came time to start applying for colleges, I had my top two schools and one wildcard that I had not known much about but was going to apply to in an effort to get out of my comfort zone. HSU was my wildcard school. It was a place I had never heard of but instantly fell in love with. I made a weekend trip up to Abilene in January of 2021 and toured HSU. The sense of community and family was so overwhelming that weekend. It was a place that was six hours from my hometown but still felt like home. From that moment on, I knew HSU was a special place and I would be making a mistake choosing any school other than HSU.

What HSU organizations have you been involved with?

I have been involved in a variety of organizations at HSU. I have been involved with University Recreation as a supervisor and group fitness instructor at Fletcher Fitness Center. As a supervisor at Fletcher Fitness Center, I have been given the privilege of leading staff and developing initiatives that have helped to improve the efficiency of tasks and camaraderie amongst staff. Additionally, I participate in numerous intramural sports as time allows. Some of the intramural sports that I have played include flag football, softball, 6v6 volleyball, beach volleyball, and pickleball.

What has your student experience been like at HSU?

My student experience at HSU has been full of joyful memories and challenging experiences that have shaped me into the student that I am now. I have been blessed to meet some of my closest friends and wisest mentors. HSU has given me opportunities that I never would have imagined. I have been given job opportunities that have prepared me for my post-college plans. I have been involved in a variety of student organizations, each of which have provided me with lasting friendships and memories that I pray I never forget. I have also been fortunate enough to represent HSU as a student ambassador and have been able to impact other students the way HSU has impacted my student experience.

How has HSU impacted you?

HSU has taught me how to be everyone’s biggest cheerleader. It has shown me how to support those around me in a way that challenges and uplifts. HSU has shown me that “challenging” is not always negative. It has taught me that through every challenge comes growth and testimonials. HSU has been a place that has supported me and shown me the love of Christ from faculty, staff, students, and alumni.

What is next for you?

Up next for me is graduate school. I plan to get my Master in Science in Kinesiology, Sport and Recreation with a Recreation and Sport Administration Concentration from HSU. After that, my goal is to transition into working in management at a private gym or in athletics.