A Path Made Possible By Giving

Fall 2015 - When Baylor senior Cambrey Dent received the Sadie Jo Black Endowed Scholarship and the Wilford T. and Louise T. Brandon Endowed Academic Scholarship her freshman year at Baylor, "it was a total shock," she said.

"When I first realized the price of Baylor, I didn't know how I was going to make it happen," she added. "But through lots of prayer and by receiving scholarships, I was able to find a way to get there."

Cambrey is the daughter of Pastor Burnell Dent, who left his career as a professional football player in the NFL to pursue a call to ministry. After attending seminary, Dent and his wife, Marsha, planted New Foundation for Life Full Gospel Baptist Church in LaPlace, Louisiana.

"My parents were very involved in the ministry, but that was their only source of income," Cambrey said. "By the time I was in high school, finances really weren't there. We had to move into a family home to try to keep the church running."

A wonderful opportunity

Despite her family's financial challenges, Cambrey was able to attend Baylor -- one of her first choices for higher education -- because of the scholarships she received.

Cambrey is now studying political science and is involved in several academic and service organizations, including Baylor Ambassadors, Alpha Lambda Delta honor society and Baylor Union Board. This past summer, she was selected as a BA Rudolph Foundation Scholar, and with the help of the Foundation she was able to intern with the Children's Defense Fund in Washington, D.C.

"I am passionate about social justice," Cambrey said. "I want to go to law school and work in government to try to shape public policy to help our kids."

A debt of gratitude

The servant-mindedness she learned from her parents combined with her experiences at Baylor have encouraged Cambrey to pursue a career in public service. She said she will never forget that it was through the generosity of Sadie Jo Black and Wilford and Louise Brandon that she was able to attend Baylor, where her passions and dreams have taken shape.

"Literally, without their generous estate gifts I would not have been able to go to Baylor," Cambrey said. "Every time I look at my financial aid package, I feel overwhelmed and so blessed. I've been able to do so much and really figure out what I want to do through my time at Baylor. It's definitely been an experience that's going to impact the rest of my life."