When Rusty Bruns received a late homework assignment from Jatonya Simmons who had just missed his class, he questioned the 19-year-old freshman about her arrival.
A very apologetic Simmons started crying as she explained that the bus was running late. She had been forced to use the bus to get to school and work after the engine blew in her 1989 Nissan Sentra last year. Simmons, a downtown Charleston resident, said she had been feeling the pressure of not having a car – having to allot more time for travel while keeping up with her classes and work. She was also helping to provide for her great grandmother, who is very ill.
Gift – CSU student Jatonya Simmons thanks Jimmie Johnson of Integrity Motors.Bruns, the university’s chief information officer and the instructor for the career planning course Jatonya is enrolled in, decided to try and help her find a car. Two weeks later, with the help of Integrity Motors and Limelight Financial, Jatonya was given the keys to a 1992 Ford Taurus, free of charge. The car, Bruns said, will help the promising freshman stay on top of her schoolwork and her job.
“We are so pleased at the way this turned out,” Bruns said. “With the help and generosity of others, an important need was met for one of our students.”
The career planning course Bruns teaches is through the university’s freshman advocacy program, a student success program that was implemented last semester. The program allows students to make a personal connection with a faculty or staff member and receive guidance to achieve their goals.
“At Charleston Southern University, we always try to go the extra mile to help a student in need,” Bruns said. “Jatonya is a promising student whose need could have affected her academics and her future.”