In Her Own Words-
Scholarship Recipient Shares Her Story
What The Mendocino Coast Audubon Scholarship Means to Me
—by Jamie Henry
Editor’s Note—The last 13 years have been a challenge—and a triumph— for Mendocino College science student Jamie Henry. She is the recipient of the 2026 Brandon Pill Memorial Scholarship, a $5,350 award. Here is her story.
I am truly honored to have been selected for the 2026 Brandon Pill Memorial Scholarship, and so grateful for the opportunity now to share a bit about my journey.
In terms of my work experience, I am currently a Planner 1 with Mendocino Planning and Building Services, and achieved 2 years of service in July. Prior to that, I worked for the County of Lake, and my path into planning started in a very unexpected way. In 2021, I took on a role as an Office Assistant for Planning. I was 16 weeks pregnant and had just lost a job for the first time in my life, very unexpectedly. With only a high school diploma and limited job opportunities at the time, I took the first entry-level position I could find.
“I want my son to see me walk across a stage at Mendocino College next spring and get my associate degree. Then I want him to see me walk across a stage at Sonoma State to get my bachelor’s degree in 2-3 years.”
My first day on the job, I was introduced to planning and zoning and something just immediately clicked. I spent the rest of my pregnancy learning absolutely everything that I could and quickly realized I had found something I not only enjoyed doing but I had a knack for, too. When I came back to work from maternity leave, my son just six weeks old, I had already earned a promotion to Planning Technician.
Without a college degree, my opportunities for advancement were limited. Around that same time, my personal life was going through a lot of changes as well. Two years ago, I became a single mother after experiencing acts of violence. In addition to that, I also began a journey of sobriety deciding that alcohol no longer had a place in my new life. Roughly 3 months on this path, an opportunity opened up with Mendocino Planning and Building Services. Despite not having a college degree, my supervisors saw my potential and gave me a chance. That opportunity allowed me to continue building a career I love and help me create a stable and healthy future for myself and my son here in Mendocino County.
My educational goals don’t stop at a Natural Resources degree with Mendocino College, I plan on transferring to Sonoma State University where I will pursue a degree in Environmental Science, Planning and Geography.
My long-term goal is to continue growing professionally in public service within our local community. I decided to go to school even though my career doesn’t strictly require me to do so. The reason being that I wanted a well-rounded education that combines both my work experience and also includes a formal academic background.
One professor who has had a meaningful impact on me is Mendocino College’s Dr. Steve Cardimona. He taught two of my classes during my first semester and another this semester. He helped to awaken a passion in science and learning within me that I didn’t know I had. I was not the strongest student in high school. At the time, I did not have the work ethic I needed to succeed academically. Over the past 13 years, I have developed that discipline through work and life experience. Making mistakes along the way, but learning from them time and time again. I spent the last two years building a new life for myself and last August I realized I was ready to earn my degree.
I am pursuing this not because I have to, but because I truly want to. I want to set a positive and inspiring example for my son while continuing this path of personal growth. Balancing school, a full-time job, and motherhood has not been easy, but what motivated me and continues to keep me going is the desire to build a healthy and meaningful future for both myself and my son. I also wanted to prove to myself that I could keep moving forward even through challenging circumstances.
One thing I would like to share is how important its has been to have access to a local educational opportunity like Mendocino College, as well as having the wonderful Child Development Center on campus where my son attends and thrives in. Being able to pursue higher education close to home, having a wonderful childcare option I can trust, and continuing to provide an income for my household, has made a huge difference in my ability to reach my goals.
Mendocino Coast Audubon Society supports funding for annual natural science scholarships at Mendocino College in cooperation with Mendocino College Foundation and Mendocino College Coastal Field Station. These scholarship funds come from a bequest by Huldie Schoener Clark, monies approved by the MCAS Board of Directors, MCAS members, and members of the community. Scholarship recipients are selected by science faculty staff based on academic achievement, financial need, and participation in laboratory research at the college Field Station near Point Arena:
https//www.mendocino.edu/about/mlccd/our-campus/mendocino-college-coastal-field-station
Donations for the 2027 scholarships can be made to the MCAS Brandon Pill Memorial Scholarship Fund and/or the MCAS Professor Greg Grantham Memorial Scholarship Fund. To be included in this spring’s award, donations must be received before the end of February. Checks to MCAS Scholarship Fund should be mailed to Jim Havlena, Treasurer, Mendocino Coast Audubon Society, P.O. Box 2297, Fort Bragg, CA 95437. Please contact MCAS Scholarship Chair Judy Steele for more information judys@mcn.org
