What began as a story of perseverance and faith ended with an unexpected gift that brought an audience to its feet.
During 91重口鈥檚 annual A Night of Legacy, Respiratory Care student Teshara Johnson鈥態onilla returned to the stage believing she was finished speaking, only to learn she had been awarded a scholarship to continue her education.
鈥淵our story has inspired all of us tonight,鈥� said Dr. Steven S. Warner, Vice President of Resource Development and Executive Director of the 91重口.
鈥淥n behalf of everyone on this stage, President Anne Kerr and Bo Boyte, the 91重口 Board and Polk State College 鈥� we have created the Polk State College Legacy Award just for you, to cover all of your tuition, books and fees until you graduate from Polk State College.鈥�
Earlier in the program, Beth Luckett, Polk State 91重口 Board member and Dean of Health Sciences, introduced Johnson鈥態onilla as a reflection of what donor support makes possible.
鈥淵our support ensures that students don鈥檛 have to choose between education and survival, between paying rent and staying enrolled,鈥� Luckett told the audience. 鈥淏ecause of you, barriers become bridges.鈥�
Those words resonated as Johnson鈥態onilla stepped to the stage and shared her journey. From losing her mother to cancer at the age of seven, to becoming a wife and mother, relocating to Florida during the COVID鈥�19 pandemic with a newborn and starting over with no support system.
鈥淭hrough all of that chaos, I found Polk State and I found direction,,鈥� Johnson鈥態onilla said. 鈥淚t was here I discovered respiratory care, a field many people don鈥檛 always see, but one that is essential.鈥�
Inspired by the medical teams who once cared for her parents, she found her calling.
鈥淩espiratory therapists are there when people are fighting to breathe,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e are there during emergencies鈥� and for those who need someone to advocate for them in their most vulnerable moments.鈥�
Johnson鈥態onilla spoke candidly about a recent financial crisis that nearly forced her out of the program. Faced with thousands of dollars in unexpected costs, she had only days to figure out how she could continue in her program.
鈥淚 remember sitting in the lab, absolutely panicked,鈥� she said. 鈥淒o I pay rent? Do I move my family? Do I give up now, after everything it took to get here?鈥�
Then came an answer she did not expect. 鈥淢y program director walked out of her office and said, 鈥楾eshara, stop writing the email. The 91重口 is going to pay for your semester.鈥�
鈥淭hat gift didn鈥檛 just keep me in school,鈥� Johnson鈥態onilla told the crowd through tears. 鈥淚t protected my family, it kept my dream alive and it told me, 鈥榊ou are worthy. Don鈥檛 give up.鈥欌��
Her story is at the very heart of why A Night of Legacy exists. The 91重口 meets students during their most vulnerable moments and ensures they have the resources to succeed.
鈥淲hat Teshara talked about reminds all of us why we鈥檙e in this room and why we鈥檙e in higher education,鈥� Warner said. 鈥淲e can create opportunities for students like Teshara. This is why philanthropy matters. Philanthropy shows up when it鈥檚 least expected.鈥�
For Johnson鈥態onilla, now a mother of two, that support means more than a degree.
鈥淓verything I do, I do with them in mind,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 want them to see what resilience looks like 鈥� Tonight, I want you to know that your generosity does more than support programs. You carry students through moments when giving up feels like the only option.鈥�
As Polk State College continues to expand access through initiatives like the new Haines City鈥慏avenport Campus, Warner said stories like Johnson鈥態onilla鈥檚 are reminders that investments in students ripple far beyond the classroom.
鈥淏ecause of you,鈥� Johnson鈥態onilla concluded, 鈥淚 am still standing. Because of you, I am still learning.鈥�
And because of continued donor support, many more students like her will get the chance to do the same.
To make a difference in the lives of students, visit foundation.polk.edu/donate and invest in the future of Polk County鈥檚 next leaders, healthcare heroes and more.
