There was nowhere else Auburn native Ashley Matthews wanted to be other than the University of Montevallo.
So, it was the only university she applied to.
She was accepted, successfully enrolled and received an Academic Recognition Scholarship, an AC Legg Inc. Endowed Scholarship and a Barbara Ivey Memorial Fund scholarship.
“I feel incredibly grateful for scholarships because I have limited financial support from my family to get through college,” Matthews said. “I wouldn’t have the outlook I have now without it.”
“It’s incredibly important for people to donate to scholarship funds. Even if I was able to get loans, it would mean more debt coming out of college. I work in the Alumni Engagement Center and I get to see the process of alumni contributing to scholarship funds. It’s wonderful to hear how much alumni love the University and want to contribute to opportunities for students.”
Matthews, who is a senior majoring in accounting, said her time at Montevallo has been life-changing.
“I’m honestly not the same person I was when I came here,” she said.
She said she’s matured into a leader on campus and gotten to experience so many things that pulled her out of her shell. The experiences that have contributed the most to her growth have been taking part in College Night, Greek life and the Michael E. Stephens College of Business, which have granted her opportunities she doesn’t believe she would have received at a larger school.
As a proud member of Gold Side, she was responsible for the season budget and played volleyball for GV.
In her sorority, Chi Omega, she was the marketing director and chaplain during her freshman year. After that, she served as the secretary and director of programming and is currently the new member educator.
“The professors here care about me and my future. They’re vested in my life versus if I was at a bigger school, I’d just be another fish in the bowl. I have no doubt that when I came to Montevallo I came home, where I belong.”
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