From Bartlett to the Bar: A scholar’s path to advocacy

From Bartlett to the Bar: A scholar’s path to advocacy

Scholarship recipient Hannah Faulkner is building a future centered on others

When Hannah Faulkner talks about her future, she talks about other people. The Memphis native and Bartlett High School graduate, now a junior at Middle Tennessee State University, is preparing for a career in law because she wants to advocate for people who may not always have the resources or representation they need.

For three consecutive years, Hannah has received the Helen Hoffman Education Fund Scholarship through the Community Foundation. The scholarship supports students who are pursuing an education to better their lives and who otherwise might not have the opportunity to attend college. Her story shows what that support makes possible.

Hannah is studying Psychology with minors in Pre-Law and Criminal Justice, and she is a student in the University Honors College. She says the scholarship has relieved some of the financial pressure that comes with college, which has given her more time and energy to invest in her education.

“Having the support of the Community Foundation has allowed me to focus not only on earning my degree, but also on building the experiences and skills that will help me reach my goals,” she said.

That focus has turned into action. She has become more involved on campus, taken part in community service, and gained experience in the legal field through internships and job shadowing. Each of those experiences has strengthened her decision to attend law school.

Looking back, Hannah says the most meaningful part of college has been the growth she has seen in herself. She arrived unsure of what her experience would look like, and she chose to push herself toward involvement and leadership.

Through the Honors College, campus organizations, community service, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, she has built relationships with people who support and encourage her, and she has found new ways to serve others. “College has helped me grow into a more confident student, leader, and future professional,” she said.

After law school, Hannah plans to become an attorney and use her position to give back to the communities that shaped her. One of her long-term goals is to create a nonprofit organization that gives children and underserved communities access to resources, mentorship, and opportunities.

Memphis remains at the center of that vision. “Memphis will always be an important part of who I am because it is where I grew up,” she said. “No matter where my career takes me, I want to continue finding ways to give back.”

Her hope is that younger people will see that where they come from does not limit where they can go, and she wants her career to open doors for others along the way.