Jennifer Dunham was a 1994 graduate of Terre Haute North High School. During her four years at North, Jennifer was a very enthusiastic participant in many different activities. She was a member of the National Honor Society, editor of the high school newspaper, and editor of the school’s literary magazine. She was also secretary of the Terre Haute North Continental Corps and an active member of the youth group at Sacred Heart Church. A very impressive background start for a young lady with a dream of attending Indiana University as a journalism major.
After graduating high school, Jennifer continued on with a start to a very busy summer. She held a job at Honey Creek West Cinema 8, took a trip to Florida and turned 18 years old. During this time, she also found out that she was accepted into Indiana University and attended the registration program. Now it was time to sit back, relax and continue to dream.
What most people don’t realize is that going into her senior year in high school, Jennifer was diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer. Most of her accomplishments were achieved while juggling a schedule that included doctors’ appointments and chemotherapy treatments. Even though Jennifer was faced with many unforeseen obstacles, she never let them stand in her way. She remained a determined and very strong-willed individual through it all. When Jennifer attended the registration program at I.U., she did so in a wheelchair. But for Jennifer, that was just another step toward reaching her dream. On August 4, 1994, Jennifer passed away. She never got to fulfill that dream. In reality, she knew she never would. However, it never kept her from believing that someday her dream would come true.
It was Jennifer’s determination and spirit to live, along with encouragement from family and friends, which inspired her parents, Dennis and Sue Dunham, to set up a scholarship fund in Jennifer’s memory. This scholarship was set up with the hope of helping another Terre Haute North student further their education and possibly fulfill their dream.
(To apply contact Terre Haute North Vigo High School.)
Eligibility requires that:
- You are a graduate of Terre Haute North Vigo High School.
- You are seeking a degree in journalism.
