ASPIRE puts Sisters woman's dreams in reach

Sisters High School graduate Cady Mae Hunt has spent the last three years proving herself wrong - and loving every moment of it.

"I didn't think I was the kind of student that fit the criteria to be able to do college. I believed you had to come from a family with a strong educational and socio-economic background, and that just wasn't my life," said Hunt.

Hunt was orphaned at the age of 12. When her grandparents, Lee and Delores Capp, gave her a home they gave her lots of love to go with it - and a strong work ethic. Grandpa Capp is a Master Sergeant, USMC retired. He and Grandma Capp live on a fixed income.

Hunt says of her grandparents, "It really leaves an impression when someone has a little and gives a lot. I have so much gratitude towards my grandparents. They've been married 60 years. They taught me you'll never know unless you try."

But beliefs about herself were well ingrained by then. She knew her mom believed in her and she carries that support with her to this day. Yet, the memories of buying expired milk and living on welfare were not the new memories she wanted to make for herself. College was an elusive dream, but work was reality.

Hunt's goal was a career in law enforcement.

"It was required of us students to go to ASPIRE. I went but I kept telling my mentor I wanted to be a cop," she recalled. "I just had to wait till I was 21 to try out."

(ASPIRE is a mentoring program at the high school that focuses on life after high school.)

However, Hunt's ASPIRE mentor, Val Anderson, was thinking the same thing her grandparents had taught her: you'll never know unless you try.

"Cady was extremely bitter and angry about her lot in life and thought ASPIRE was a waste of time because she felt college was beyond her reach," said Anderson. So despite Hunt's preconceived notions, Anderson encouraged her to apply anyway. Hunt applied to five schools and was accepted to all five.

She chose Western Oregon University.

College acceptance is one thing; paying for it is quite another. ASPIRE mentors are trained to help students find the funds to attend college. Hunt grappled with the finance decisions. She didn't want to burden herself with loans that could someday come crashing down

on her.

"With the help of Laurie Adams, we mapped out a one-year plan and budget so she could try college," said Anderson. "She was adamant about not financing her education because she was already paying for a car, cell phone, clothes etc.

We suggested that she work and go to school for at least a year to see if she could make it."

Through Hunt's efforts and her ASPIRE mentor's motivation, Hunt was awarded five scholarships. She works 20 hours a week, has a dorm mom (free room and board), is the secretary for the football team, and has continued to receive scholarship money every year which just about pays for her tuition. Each one of these components has helped Hunt attain her goal to remain debt-free.

Hunt is in her senior year at Western Oregon University. She will graduate cum lade with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and a minor in Social Sciences, focused on Sociology with an emphasis in Community Services. She carries a 3.79 GPA, has been on the Dean's List consecutively, and is the president of the Criminal Justice Club.

And she has an interview with the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office.

Graduating a whole term early, Hunt must now choose between applying for graduate school or taking a $2,500 scholarship to study abroad.

"Those study abroad credits can be applied towards graduate school," she said.

Seems this Sisters High School graduate has learned to reach for the stars and make it happen.

To learn more about the ASPIRE program or to become one of their volunteers, contact Sisters High School ASPIRE Coordinator Susanna Harrison at 541-549-4045; e-mail susanna.

[email protected]