Lone Star College-Montgomery student overcomes medical setback to graduate, receives scholarship

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas -- Lone Star College-Montgomery student Sarah Bigham was awarded the prestigious Smith-Hutson Transfer Scholarship, receiving financial support up to a maximum of $17,500 per academic year to attend Sam Houston State University. More than 580 students applied and only approximately 20 were awarded the scholarship.

When Bigham was 18-years-old she started having severe pain in her stomach along with a fever, nausea and vomiting. She went to the hospital, learned she suffers from acute pancreatitis, and came out more than $30,000 in debt.

“I did not want to experience the pain again because it was so traumatizing,” said Bigham. “Doctors told me the best way to prevent it was a low fat diet. So without hesitation, I cut out red meat, I cut out fast food.”

She could buckle down and control her diet, but it was harder with her finances.

“I wanted to start college at a four-year university, but I knew that was not going to happen because I had been in the hospital,” said Bigham. “It is a lot harder for my family to afford a university. I am the youngest of five children and my parents are separated. My Mom is an extremely hard-working woman - she works at Subway® trying to make ends meet. I try to help her any way I can – I work at Yogurt Worx and Crossroads Baptist Church. I love my family, everything I do, I do for them, so I also took the financially sound route and started my education at LSC-Montgomery.”

Bigham will receive her Associates of Science at LSC-Montgomery commencement Thursday, May 10.

“I am a first generation college student so I had no idea what to expect from college,” said Bigham. “LSC-Montgomery was a great way to immerse myself in a college environment. The professors have a lot of passion for teaching and making sure their students succeed.”

Bigham is continuing her education in the Honors Program at Sam Houston State University by way of the Smith-Hutson Transfer Scholarship.

“When I found out I received the Smith-Hutson scholarship, I was overwhelmed, I fell to my knees and cried,” said Bigham. “All I could think was, ‘I can afford college and I am going to get a degree.’ To me, education is a privilege. To be able to go to school and better my life is an incredible feeling. It is an honor. I am so excited to go to Sam Houston State University because it is something I have always wanted to do.

Bigham utilized the Transfer, Recruitment and Career Center at LSC-Montgomery to help decide on a major.

“During career counseling, I explored my interests,” said Bigham. “I knew I wanted to do something science and healthcare-related, but my biggest fear is blood. So counseling steered me toward nutrition and I thought, ‘That is perfect, that is what I want to do!’ I realized my experience with pancreatitis has provided me with a unique empathy to help others. It is amazing the effect food can have on the body. I have seen it myself. I was doing really well health-wise, but I had a second attack in July 2017. It was less severe and I attribute my new diet to it. My goal going forward is to graduate from Sam Houston State University, get a steady job I enjoy that helps people and also supports me financially and emotionally. I credit LSC-Montgomery for helping me get to where I am today. I am going to miss being a Maverick. I have had the most unbelievable time studying at LSC-Montgomery.”

For more information about Lone Star College-Montgomery, visit lonestar.edu.