Scholarships benefit youth who want careers helping children

Two Poplar Bluff students’ college funds grew recently when they received scholarships from the Poplar Bluff Housing Authority and the Missouri National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials.

Jacob W. Phillips, 18, received $2,000 and Kaile Harper, 20, got $500.

Since Phillips and his mother Amanda Volle live in housing, he was eligible to apply for one of two scholarships awarded in the state by MONAHRO.

Housing authority executive director Darrin J. Taylor credits Phillips’ academic successes with having earned him the scholarship. Taylor said, $1,000 is renewable if Phillips keeps his grades up.

After receiving his scholarship, Phillips said, “I’m really thankful for it. With the cost of education, it helps a lot with relieving the financial stress with college.”

Phillips will start the University of Missouri, Columbia, in the fall to study pre-law.

“I was in and out of foster care during my early childhood years,” Phillips said. “From that experience, I had a really good attorney who represented me. I wanted to go back home with my mom, and the attorney was a voice for me when I was in a really vulnerable spot. I felt like, that’s what I wanted to do when I grew up, be there for kids in difficult situations as well.

“We moved back to Poplar Bluff my senior year so I didn’t do a lot with Poplar Bluff High School. I work full time at Walmart to help save some money.”

When he heads to school this fall, he already will have 41 college credits from College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls, Idaho, and Three Rivers College.

Harper’s mother, Tammy, is the office manager for the local housing authority which made Kaile eligible to apply for the $500 MONAHRO scholarship. She applied for the scholarship by writing an essay.

She graduated from Poplar Bluff High School in May 2021, and is a junior at Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri.

“I am studying child and family development with an emphasis in child life to one day become a child life specialist for a children’s hospital,” Harper said.

While she’s home for the summer, she said, “I work at John Scott’s office, the law firm on Main Street. I saved up enough money to go back in August.”

She has two brothers, Tyler Harper and Dylan Harper.

“I would say how grateful I am for the Poplar Bluff Housing Authority and Missouri National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials for giving me such an amazing opportunity to continue my education,” Harper said. “I want to give a shout out to my mom for always supporting me and allowing me to follow my dreams.”