Scholarship Leaves Student Humbled, Grateful

Garraway Anderson considered attending pharmacy school in her home state of Mississippi, but the University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s College of Pharmacy was her top choice. However, she didn’t know if she could afford out-of-state tuition.

“When I got the call saying I was accepted into the program, I was absolutely thrilled,” says Anderson, who is from Madison, Mississippi. “But then my heart kind of sank because I remembered that cost was an issue, and the amount of loans I would have to take out really worried me.”

Her mom was supportive and suggested that she meet with financial advisors to figure out exactly how much attending UTHSC would cost and how much she’d owe when she finished. Anderson is paying for pharmacy school on her own.

“I did my research and basically decided that I could not let the money keep me away from this school,” Anderson says. “I knew it wouldn't be easy, but this time I had to trust my heart and trust God and worry about the rest later.”

Life-Changing Generosity
Only after Anderson made her decision did she learn she had received a scholarship from Linda Highers, a retired pharmacist who graduated from UTHSC College of Pharmacy in 1974.

“When I was notified that I got a scholarship, I was very humbled by it,” Anderson says. “I wasn’t expecting to get one. It was very much appreciated.”

Highers says that while her gifts are intended to help the school and its students, the giving itself is just second nature.

“I guess I was born with it, and then my mother and daddy must have instilled it,” Highers says. “I just have a huge sense of loyalty, and that degree made a nice living for me; so it was just sort of natural to do. I was raised to give every week to church and to help people.”

Anderson says choosing to attend school out of state was the most difficult decision she’s made in her life, but it will ultimately help her be the best pharmacist she can be . She says Linda Highers’ generosity has had a huge impact on her attitude and her future.

“School’s really hard, and the scholarship kind of encourages me to focus and just get through it and study and learn,” Anderson says. “It’s just nice knowing that there’s someone out there that’s helping me with this, and it just makes me even more gracious that I received it.”

Anderson started at UT in fall 2016 and says she loves UT for its emphasis on skills training and practical applications, plus the many opportunities in Memphis to serve and help people.

“If you had asked me a couple years ago, four years’ worth of tuition loans for out-of-state professional school is not something I thought I would be getting myself into,” Anderson says. “Donors like Linda Highers make this possible for me and other students. Every little bit helps tremendously, and I would want her to know that she is truly helping me chase my dream of learning to become a pharmacist at my favorite school. I can’t thank her enough.”

If you would like to make a gift to UTHSC that makes an education possible for students like Garraway Anderson, please contact the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs at (901) 448-5516 or estateplans@uthsc.edu.

“It is donors like Linda Highers that helps make this possible for me and other students. Every little bit helps tremendously, and I would want her to know that she is truly helping me chase my dream of learning to become a pharmacist at my favorite school. I can’t thank her enough.” –Garraway Anderson