Joyce Penman: Alumna Endows Scholarship with IRA Gifts
Joyce Penman believes in the value of education. The UNF alumna has vivid memories of her father working relentlessly to overcome the financial burden of putting six children through college. His sacrifice inspired her in 2014 to create the Joyce B. Penman First Generation Scholarship at UNF with distributions from her IRA, an investment that will benefit generations to come.
Her motivation for the scholarship also grew from her desire to help those who immigrate to our country, in part because of her own upbringing. Penman's family moved from Canada to the U.S., and she is a first-generation American on her mother's side. Her immigrant lineage is something she shares with many other American families. "My belief is that our country is enriched by 'newcomers,' such as refugees," she said.
Penman, who earned a Master of Arts in school counseling at UNF, met two U.N. refugee students during her work as a counselor at Terry Parker High School. She said she admired both for their persistence in moving forward; one was fleeing war in Africa. In addition, through her volunteer work with Lutheran Services, she often picked up refugees as they arrived in Jacksonville with one suitcase to call their own. Those personal experiences, her dedication to learning and her commitment to the University of North Florida and its mission of educational excellence culminated in the scholarship fund.
In 2017, Penman sponsored four students - three of whom have refugee backgrounds. All wrote to her expressing their gratitude and thankfulness for making their roads through college less rocky. Aleul Ngom, a recipient of Penman's generosity, shared how the scholarship came at a perfect time to provide the resources she needed to be successful. "The Joyce B. Penman First Generation Scholarship took away my financial stress so that I could focus on my studies," said Ngom, who, after meeting her donor, has been inspired to also give back and support others.
Through Ngom and others, there is no doubt that the impact of Penman's gift will be felt far into the future.
