CTK Alumna Earning Recognition at HBCU, Harris-Stowe State University

Jae’Lynn Jordan, CTK ’22, a rising junior at Harris-Stowe State University (HSSU) in St. Louis continues to rack up impressive accolades and accomplishments. Her most recent honor was being named a White House HBCU Scholar, one of two representatives from her school. With a clear vision for her future, Jae’Lynn has been willing to put in the hard work and make the tough choices to help keep her on the path to achievement and success.

Jae’Lynn described her family as being close, supportive, and importantly showing up for one another. It was her mom who “made her go to CTK”. She thought it would put her daughter in a better situation without some of the distractions from middle school, along with CTK’s focus on the combination of academics, faith, and corporate work study. Jae’Lynn overcame her initial shyness, and the interruption of COVID, to take a CTK leadership role in “helping create a new post-COVID culture.” She mentioned embracing the Grad at Grad quality of being “Open to Growth”. Her diverse list of CTK activities included being a majorette, Peer Minister, National Honor Society Vice President, and Student Council President. She also valued her experiences as a student worker at both Milliman and later at Catholic Charities. Her involvement with food pantries at her Catholic Charities job and other service activities while at CTK were eye-opening for her. “I helped out at a food pantry  around Thanksgiving. Going in I thought it would just be feeding homeless adults, but I discovered a lot of kids were also affected, some my age and even younger. I left feeling beyond grateful for what I had.” She has made it a priority to continue doing community service which has extended to St. Louis neighborhoods by Harris-Stowe.

At Harris-Stowe, Jae’Lynn is majoring in Culture and Communications, she plans to attend graduate school in Journalism, with a goal of a career in news/sports broadcasting. Her academic and extra-curricular achievements at CTK led to multiple college acceptances for her to choose between. Ultimately, her final decision ended up being between a full ride scholarship to Loyola University Chicago or a partial scholarship to Harris-Stowe. After praying about it, and discussing it with her family, she felt drawn to Harris-Stowe. “I had to tell my mom that I was gong to pass on the full scholarship. I believe God was calling me to be at Harris-Stowe. I was meant to be here.”  Her HSSU choice has forced her to take on the burden of paying her college costs through student loans, work study jobs, including this summer as a Bridge program ambassador for incoming students, as well as a part-time job at a nearby Target.

She couldn’t be happier with her college choice; despite the financial challenges she is facing. She is proud to go to a HBCU. The smaller campus, family atmosphere, and abundant opportunities make it a perfect fit where she can thrive. In addition to her jobs and schoolwork, Jae’Lynn also has carved out time to be a member of the Honeycombs majorette team which performs at basketball games and in the community. A few of her other activities include te Network journalism organization, NAACP, Thurgood Marshall College Fund Leadership Institute ambassador, career engagement ambassador, and Royal Court student representative & campus queen.

Harris-Stowe’s faculty has an open-door policy that has allowed Jae’Lynn to feel comfortable enough to share her views and concerns. This led to her establishing a connection with HSSU President, LaTonia Collins Smith the first woman to serve in this role. Last spring, the school president called Jae’Lynn to her office and shared the opportunity to represent HSSU in the White House HBCU Scholar program. She applied, and Jae’Lynn and another student were excited to learn they were both selected to participate. Each HBCU will have one or two representatives in the yearlong program. The students and school representatives will initially gather in Philadelphia this fall, with other follow-up zoom calls and conferences to follow. A portion of the program will be devoted to researching and advocating for resolutions for selected causes/issues. The preliminary areas of interest for Jae’Lynn to pitch include poverty & social issues and mental health. She also will be representing HSSU in Washington DC this fall at a networking and learning event put on by the Thurgood Marshall College Fund Leadership Institute.

Jae’Lynn credits her CTK experience with providing the lessons and opportunities that have helped shape her into who she is today. She also thanked the many CTK teachers, staff members, and coaches for contributing to her growth and preparing her for the transition to college. She offered some advice to current CTK seniors. “It’s a big transition to college but you’ll be ready for it. Everything you are doing at CTK aligns with college experience. Don’t be afraid to get involved while at college. Enjoy it while you can, it goes by fast.”