Ka’Dedra Andrea Creech didn’t know when she was going to get her next meal. She didn’t know how she was going to wash her clothes. She was starting to wonder if she could stay in college.

And then she received the J. Gorman ’43 and Gladys Thomas Alumni Scholarship.

“That scholarship changed everything for me. It let me focus on my studies and not be so hungry,” says the senior double majoring in biology and Hispanic studies. “It was a really hard time in my college career. I still get emotional about it.”

“Anytime I need Gary, he’s there. Even if it’s last minute, Gary always comes through. He’s not someone who just threw some money at me and walked away – he wants to be part of my success.”
– Ka’Dedra Andrea Creech

Established by Gary Thomas ’83, an oncologist in Hilton Head Island, S.C., in memory of his parents, the scholarship is reserved for students who are planning a career in medicine – something that Creech has been determined to do for as long as she can remember.

“The one thing that impresses me most about Andrea is her total dedication to achieving her goal of a career in medicine. She will let nothing stand in her way,” says Thomas. “We could not have chosen a more deserving student.”

Creech appreciates Thomas’ confidence in her just as much as the scholarship money.

“Knowing Gary believes in me goes a long way. Every time we talk, he just uplifts me three notches,” she says. “Anytime I need Gary, he’s there. Even if it’s last minute, Gary always comes through. He’s not someone who just threw some money at me and walked away – he wants to be part of my success.”

Creech’s most recent success has landed her at Yale University for the summer: As part of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Exceptional Research Opportunities Program, she is spending 12 weeks with a Yale research team studying type 2 diabetes, a lifelong passion of hers.

When Creech returns to Charleston this fall, she’ll continue pursuing her medical career dreams: volunteering for CofC EMS, continuing her MUSC lab research and applying to physician assistant schools. And, thanks to Thomas, she won’t be worried about her next meal. She’s got plenty on her plate.

When her family moved to the Charleston area during her junior year of high school, Carissa Jenkins felt she was destined to go to the College of Charleston. It was love at first sight.

“The moment I stepped onto the College of Charleston campus for my first tour was the moment I knew the College was perfect for me,” says Jenkins, noting that, ultimately, it came down to finances. “Luckily, the College of Charleston was able to offer me a scholarship, so my dream could come true!”

Now a senior, Jenkins is still in love with the College, and – after graduation – she plans to stick around to pursue her master’s in accountancy at the Graduate School, University of Charleston, S.C. She hopes to earn her Certified Public Accounting license and would one day like to pay it forward.

“I will always thank my donors for allowing me to make my dreams a reality.”
– Carissa Jenkins

“I will always thank my donors for allowing me to make my dreams a reality,” she says. “I can’t even fathom where I would be today without the many opportunities I have had at the College, from the great professors and networking connections, to being a resident assistant. The College of Charleston has shaped me into the adult I am today.”

Growing up, Quinten Meadors could best be described as inquisitive. Always asking his mother how and why things worked eventually led Meadors to pursue a degree in biology at the College of Charleston. “Biology gives me the background knowledge and skills needed to further explore my childhood joy of theorizing and uncovering the operations of the world around me,“ he says.

In the future, Meadors hopes to pursue a degree in emergency medicine and open his own clinic to make health care available in underserved and disadvantaged communities. With scholarships from unrestricted funds like the College of Charleston Fund and the Honors College Dean’s Excellence Fund, Meadors is on his way to reaching that dream.

“Receiving these scholarships has alleviated much of the financial burden for my family and me. I know it will go a long way in aiding me in future pursuits.”
– Quinten Meadors

“Receiving these scholarships has alleviated much of the financial burden for my family and me. I know it will go a long way in aiding me in future pursuits,“ says Meadors, whose scholarships allowed him to leave the U.S. for the first time and complete biomedical research in Singapore. “I began participating in scientific lab research the first month I came to the College, but I never dreamed that my love for science would take me abroad!”