R. A. Jones Family Endowed Scholarship
Sonja C. Jones was a longtime resident of Great Falls, Montana. She put herself through nursing school and was an R.N. or stay-at-home mom the rest of her life. She met an Exxon management trainee in Denver, Colorado, named Richard A. Jones Jr. and married him in 1958. They were married for just over 40 years. Volunteer work was always important to Sonja, ranging from spearheading a library at her children’s elementary school to United Way applications review. She was a HOST Reading Tutor for many years. Sonja deeply believed in continuous improvement and that people and organizations should do what they could rather than just enough to get by. Sonja C. Jones passed away August 8, 2008, and left a bequest to the MSU Billings Foundation for student scholarships. From her bequest the R. A. Jones Family Scholarship Endowment was established to provide financial assistance to students at MSU Billings. The first scholarship was awarded in academic year 2001-2002.
Impact
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support by funding the R.A. Jones Family Endowed Scholarship and for your generous contribution toward my education. I have always had a keen interest in the medical field. Specifically, the science behind the medicine. As a nontraditional student, I am realizing that I alone am responsible for fulfilling my dreams and satisfying my curiosity about life. Deciding to undertake the challenge of returning to college has been the most rewarding experience of my life to date. This scholarship will ease the burden of college and life expenses as I pursue my chosen degree. Thank you for your confidence and willingness to help me achieve my goals.” — Jessica S., Biology and Clinical Laboratory Science major