As a 44-year-old mother of six, Grace MacDowell-Boyer didn’t fit the profile of a “typical” college student.
But after years of volunteering with developmentally challenged kids—plus raising three autistic children of her own—Grace decided to return to school to pursue a degree in psychology and research new ways to help other autistic youth.
When Grace heard about the All-USA College Academic Team—a prestigious national scholarship program for college undergraduates—she realized that although most prior winners were young enough to be her kids, this didn’t mean she couldn’t apply. So she decided to go for the $2,500 prize.
When the scholarship results were announced, surprise, surprise: Of the 20 national winners, Grace was the only grandmother.
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