Case Studies: Jesse Jackson Scholarship

When Kara Spencer's debilitating ME left her barely able to leave her room to attend lectures, and unable to push herself in her wheelchair, she could have given up her studies and gone home. For Kara, however, the easy option is not an option, and it is this determination to achieve that has seen her awarded a Jesse Jackson scholarship from Edge Hill.

"I don't see the problem, just how to get around it," says Kara. "I've always known what I wanted and I've never let ME dictate what I can or can't do. I've had three major relapses while at Edge Hill, which have seen me go from using crutches to being in a wheelchair, but I won't let it beat me."

Despite being a wheelchair user, Kara struggled to get any help or benefits from the government for the first two years of her studies.

"The Disability Support Team at Edge Hill were fantastic," she says. "They arranged for me to have help getting to lectures and using the library. But once lectures were over and I was back in my room, I had no help with social care so I was pretty much on my own."

Through sheer determination, her strong faith in God and the help of some close friends, Kara has been able to enjoy student life to the full. In between studying, rehearsals for productions and fundraising for Cancer Research, Kara also manages to act as a Student Associate for Edge Hill. Part of the AimHigher scheme, Student Associates go into schools with low HE participation rates and encourage young people to consider university.

"I'm very passionate about education as a way of improving yourself," says Kara. "I come from a deprived area and have overcome barriers to get to university myself. I want kids to see what I've achieved and think, "I can do that too".

Long-term Kara plans to undertake a Masters in Applied Drama so that she can further develop her understanding of disability arts and inclusive learning.

"I didn't think I stood a chance of winning the scholarship," she says. "I didn't think I'd done anything amazing, it's just what I deal with every day. It's made me realise how lucky and blessed I am, and I feel really humbled."

Course: BA (Hons) Drama with English

A debilitating disease hasn't deterred Mary-Jane Hartley's spirit in carving out a new career and offering counselling to vulnerable families. Her determination has resulted in an Inspiration Excellence Scholarship from Edge Hill University.

The 30-year-old from Clayton Brook, Preston, who is on the BA (Hons) Counselling degree, was awarded scholarship for her commitment and perseverance to her studies and being an inspiration to those around her.

At the age of 22, Mary-Jane was forced to abandon her pursuit of a career in Nursing when she was diagnosed with Type 2A Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy which, in the words of her programme leader, "affected her muscles and mobility, but not her spirit".

Refusing to be defined by her condition, which has left her using a wheelchair outdoors, she instead embarked upon a new career pathway in counselling while also raising her three young daughters.

"When I started falling over while working in Nursing and was signed off work, I felt like I'd been written off before I'd really even started my career," explained Mary-Jane. "It was all such a shock to me. That, combined with the break-up of my relationship forced me to look at my life. I'd always spend time sitting down and talking to the elderly in my previous job so I thought that counselling would be a good route to go down - almost like nursing without the heavy lifting but having the time to talk to people."

Mary-Jane's condition changed her outlook and encouraged her to adopt a completely different lifestyle. She said: "I don't drink, I don't watch television, I don't eat meat and I meditate. I practice what I preach and my new lifestyle fits in with how I want my children to grow up. Having MD makes you realise you can't take anything for granted. I may wake up one morning and not be able to walk at all. Although it's a scary thought I just have to get on with my life in the best way possible."

For many, coping with such a condition whilst raising a young family; being dependent on a motorised wheelchair for mobility and making a 70-mile round trip to University each week might be more than enough. Yet Mary-Jane also devotes what spare time she has to her local Children's Centre in Preston in the hope that she might, in her own words, "help improve the lives of others".

She said: "I know people always ask me how I do it all but I don't see that what I do is anything special. Sometimes there's a lot of burning the candle at both ends, especially juggling a young family, but I just do it. I really enjoy counseling and helping people to work out their problems. I take every day as it comes and always look at the positives in life. People are quick to moan about what they haven't got, what I say to them is to give thanks and praise for what you do have in life."

Mary-Jane's proactive approach to disability, her infectious smile, laughter and compassion for others, makes her a truly inspirational role-model for all that can be achieved through sheer determination and commitment, which is why she has been awarded the scholarship.

"I was so chuffed to win," gushed Mary-Jane. "I come from a family of strong women and I wouldn't want my children to see me sitting round feeling sorry for myself. I don't see myself as doing anything remarkable but it's lovely to be recognised for the work that I do."

Not one to rest on her laurels, Mary-Jane is using part of her scholarship award to help fund a campaign she is helping to launch. Unite for Peace is aimed at 14 to 25-year-olds to encourage them to have a voice in their community. For more information about the initiative or to donate money, please email her on maryjane.hartley@googlemail.com.

Course: BA (Hons) Counselling

On her 21st birthday Salma Shalaby didn't receive a single present. Instead, she asked people to donate what they would have spent to her two favourite charities. This selfless attitude and tireless campaigning for those less fortunate than herself has earned her a Reverend Jesse Jackson 'Inspiration' Scholarship from Edge Hill.

The daughter of an Egyptian immigrant and an English mother, and brought up in a deprived area of Liverpool in a part Muslim, part Jewish, part Catholic family, Salma is no stranger to overcoming personal and social barriers to realise her ambitions.

"I've never let my circumstances dictate my life or get me down," says Salma. "I'd rather use my experiences to help others. If you've come from a disadvantaged background yourself, it only makes you more determined to help others in the same situation."

Salma devotes much of her time to charity work, combining studying for her Journalism degree with a part-time job as a charity fundraiser for Praestantia Promotions in Liverpool, where she raises funds for UNICEF and Cancer UK.

However, her fundraising activities go far beyond her job. As well as an ongoing commitment to UNICEF, Salma has organised cookie sales, auctions and a sponsored trek across Morocco for the Haiti Disaster Fund and helps at a homeless shelter in Toxteth most weekends. She is currently training to swim the English Channel to raise £1 million for the Egyptian 57357 Children's Cancer Hospital.

When her own mother died of cancer in 2009, Salma supported her family by taking small acting jobs and appeared as an extra in Hollyoaks and in two feature films including Powder alongside Brit actor Alfie Allen.

"I always try to think positively and those acting experiences helped me find something positive even in the worst situation," recalls Salma. "When my dad was also diagnosed with cancer I thought, "At least I'll get to spend more time with him now he's not working"."

Winning the Jesse Jackson 'Inspiration' Scholarship means a great deal to Salma - but her own inspiration comes from her dad.

"He travelled across the world to make a better life for his family, then he worked hard to bring his children up on his own," she says. "He was my inspiration to swim the Channel, because he has done it himself - and he's only got one arm! That shows the power of positive thinking so if he can do it, I definitely can!"

Course: BA (Hons) Journalism

Growing up in Zimbabwe in the 1970s and 80s, life for Walker Chikeya meant a five-mile walk to school carrying his own desk and chair, and dodging the bullets flying between soldiers and freedom fighters in his village. Many years on, Walker's determination, perseverance and drive to succeed against the odds has earned him the Jesse Jackson ‘inspiration' scholarship from Edge Hill.

"I grew up in a difficult time in Zimbabwe," says Walker. "My parents had ten children and we lived in a rural village which was used as a base by freedom fighters during the civil war.

"Fighting could break out at any moment. Soldiers often opened fire without checking who was a freedom fighter and who was just a villager. I was nearly shot on my way to school once. I felt the bullet fly past my face. It was very frightening."

Despite the danger and lack of resources at the schools he attended, Walker gained eight ‘O' Levels and trained as an accountant. For a while, life was comfortable. He got married, had two children and a good job with a utilities company.

However, as Zimbabwe descended into political turmoil at the turn of the millennium, Walker began to fear for the safety of his family. He applied for political asylum in the UK in 2004 and came to live in Liverpool.

"Moving from Zimbabwe was a very daunting experience at first," recalls Walker. "I was fluent in English but the people of Liverpool seemed to speak another language! I also found that my professional qualification wasn't recognised by British accounting bodies, so I was unable to practise as an accountant."

Undeterred, Walker enrolled on the Fastrack access programme at Edge Hill, gaining the Brian Milner Excellence scholarship for the highest average mark of any international student along the way. Now in the third year of his BSc, he is close to becoming a fully qualified accountant again.

"Going back into education after so long, especially in a foreign country, was hard," admits Walker, "but I wanted to provide for my family and make them proud."

"Getting this scholarship is an honour for me. I don't think of myself as an inspirational person, but people have told me that they have been inspired by talking to me. The scholarship has made me reflect on everything that I've been through and helped me to see how much I have achieved."

Course: BSc (Hons) Accountancy