Jena Buttery had always planned on attending college. During her senior year in high school, Buttery mapped out her future alongside her friends. She researched programs for film and video production, applied to colleges and universities, got accepted, toured campuses and made plans to move away from home. She even received scholarships. But when it came time to commit to a program, Buttery hesitated.
Something just didn’t feel right.
“It was set in my head, but not in my heart,” she said. “I had worked for this my whole life, but it wasn’t what I wanted. I didn’t want to move away from my family. And even with scholarships, college would be difficult to afford. I was paying for college on my own and my biggest worry was drowning in student loans.”
Despite this change of plans, Buttery knew that college was in her future. She applied to GRCC and declared marketing as her major. And, thanks to GRCC Foundation scholarships, Buttery was able to continue her education without worrying about finances.
“I was able to stay at home with my family, take classes at the Lakeshore Campus, and even try doing classes online,” Buttery said. “Receiving scholarships allowed me to feel confident and comfortable continuing my academic career.”
Despite being an introvert, Buttery was determined to make the most of her college experience. She was invited to join the GRCC Honors Program and attended the National Collegiate Honors Council Conference in Chicago. After sharing her interests and passions with Experiential Learning Director Michael Schavey, she was given the distinguished position as social media marketing intern. She also joined another academic-based group, Phi Theta Kappa, where she attended leadership conferences and served as the social media and communications officer.
“I learned that making strong and positive connections with others and getting involved in your community can boost your self-confidence and be the driving force for your success,” said Buttery. “You are not alone in this world, and you do not have to do it all alone. Confide in those around you, be with and engage with others, and you will succeed.”
In March 2024, Buttery was named a 2024 New Century Workforce Scholar — the first national scholarship of its kind to support community college students entering the workforce after completing their degree or certificate.
Buttery graduated from GRCC in April with an associate degree in marketing. She plans to use her passion for storytelling to pursue a career in social and digital media marketing.
“I began my GRCC journey thinking only about my education and opportunities for success,” said Buttery. “Now that I’ve graduated, I can confidently say I will never forget the connections I’ve made here. GRCC is an amazing school because we are a community. I have made life-changing friendships, gained real-world experiences that directly relate to my career path and learned leadership skills that will benefit me in all aspects of life.”
This story was republished from GRCC's 2023-24 Foundation Annual Report.