Mr. and Mrs. John T. Bondurant with scholarship recipient Eriauna Stratton
why they choose to give back. Donors have been
blessed to get where they are, and I hope to be in
their position one day.”
John Bondurant’s parents and wife were educators
and the scholarship was named after his wife
Theresa Williams Bondurant and mother Opal Tyree
Bondurant, both alums of the College of Education.
“Early on education made the difference in my
family,” he said. “If my dad hadn’t pursued his
education, I may not have enjoyed the success that
I have. Teachers play a vital role in the shaping of
our society. Anyone who is motivated to become a
teacher should be encouraged.”
With a minor in Spanish, Stratton’s studies took
a year longer than the traditional four years.
What was particularly helpful to her about the
Bondurants’ scholarship was that she was able to use
it during her fifth year in school, which is not always
the case with such funding. She has been thankful
she chose that minor, as there are a significant
number of Hispanic families in her school, with
whom she has been able to communicate in Spanish.
Additional scholarship funding also helped Stratton
study abroad in Mexico, where she honed her
Spanish-speaking skills. She was also a Fulbright
scholar, which allowed her to study in Germany, at
no cost to her.
“I wouldn’t have been able to make those trips
without the power of donations. I have been
so blessed by so many scholarships and know
I wouldn’t have been able to afford my degree
without them,” Stratton said.
Kevin Flora, the college’s director of retention
who worked with Stratton in her role as a student
ambassador, credits her work ethic.
“Not only has she worked hard to attain her
scholarships and relationships, but she is deserving
of each award,” Flora said. “I point many students
toward Eriauna as an example of how hard work
pays off. She has a lot to give back to her students
and has a heart of gold.”
As she transitions from college student to full-time
teacher, Stratton says nothing she has encountered
in her young career has blind-sided her. In fact, she
has heard from those in the field that UK graduates
are always well-prepared for teaching.
“The College of Education gave me a really great
education and prepared me very well,” she said. «
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