COLUMBIA, Mo. – Stephens College announces Jasmine Johnson of St. Louis, a May 2012 graduate, has received a national Pell Grant Legacy Award for demonstrating strong leadership skills and/or having overcome insurmountable obstacles. She is among four current and past Pell Grant recipients, from among millions, to be honored with the award for those who exemplify “Moxie,” the word U.S. Senator Claiborne Pell used to describe those who embodied courage and perseverance in overcoming adversity to achieve success.

Johnson will accept the award on Sept. 7, 2012, at an awards luncheon in New York City, hosted by The Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education, in celebration of the Pell Grant’s 40th year.

“Jasmine is an exemplary student, leader and civil servant,” said Stephens Student Advocate Gena Boling, who nominated Johnson for the award. “Though she is young, she has quite a rich history of creating opportunities to give back to society. Jasmine has consistently chosen a path which leads to the betterment of herself and of those whose lives she impacts.” 

Through volunteer work, Johnson has led groups to work with HIV and AIDS patients in Trinidad, provided mentoring to underserved youth in California, coordinated fundraising for domestic violence victims in the local Columbia community, and has served as a spokesperson on the national level lobbying to promote the promise and potential of older foster youth. 

Johnson graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Stephens, serving as the class speaker as winner of the senior Jean Clinton Roeschlaub Trustee Award. This award goes to a student who has contributed substantially to the quality of life on campus and in the Columbia community while maintaining exceptional academic standing. This fall, Johnson will begin a master’s program in social work at Columbia University in New York City.

Stephens College, established in 1833, is historically committed to meeting the changing needs of women. Stephens prepares students to become leaders and innovators in a rapidly changing world, and engages lifelong learners in an educational experience characterized by intellectual rigor, creative expression and professional practice.

The Federal Pell Grant Program provides need-based grants to low-income undergraduate and certain post-baccalaureate students to promote access to postsecondary education. Students may use their grants at any one of approximately 5,400 participating postsecondary institutions.

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