Roger Lee Jessee

My name is Lee Jessee and I live in the small town of Castlewood, Virginia. I am 28 years old, married, have a six year old daughter, and been a Christian for nine years. I have often dreamed of completing my college degree and that dream has yet to be fulfilled. For me, winning this competition would definitely be life changing and a dream come true.

I graduated from Castlewood High School in 1997 as salutatorian of a class of about 90. In the fall of 1997, I began working on an Associates degree in general studies with a concentration in computer sciences and mathematics at Southwest Virginia Community College. In the spring of 1999, I graduated from SwVCC with a 4.0 GPA. In the summer of 1999, I got married with the intent of completing my degree in computer sciences. However, as is often the case, the balance of a new family and working full time proved to be too much and I dropped out of college. In order to support my family, I took jobs at Sprint telecommunications, in home construction, and in 2001 at Mid-Mountain Foods, Inc. in Abingdon, Va. where I currently work. In April of 2001, my beautiful daughter Abigail was born changing my life forever. I still held on to the vision of completing my degree. However, in 2003, my marriage ended putting the hopes of any kind of degree even further on the back burner.

But as always, God is faithful. In 2005, I married a wonderful young lady by the name of Christi whom I've known basically all of my life. We grew up in the same neighborhood together, went to school together, and even worked at the same fast food restaurant while in high school. However, after high school our paths went in different directions and didn't cross again until sometime after my divorce. Christi has been an outstanding gift from God and has encouraged me to pursue the idea of completing my degree.

So, in the fall of 2006, I did just that. I entered a program to receive a degree in computer programming. At the same time, my professional career changed when I was promoted to the position of team leader at Mid-Mountain Foods, Inc. With these events taking place, I discovered that I did not want to be in a computer oriented career but rather in the world of business.

For the past few months, I've have been considering entering the BBA program through King College. However, cost has now become my latest obstacle. On the morning of April 18th, at about 5:00 a.m., I was making my normal journey to work and at the same time praying and asking the Lord what I should do about school. After about thirty minutes, I didn't feel like I was receiving an answer in prayer so I decided to break the silence of my commute by turning on the radio. At the exact moment that I turned on the radio to WCQR, I heard an advertisement for the "send a dad to college promotion" with full details to be released on April 19th. I took this as an answer from God that I should retun to school to complete my degree and that whether through this opportunity or some other way the Lord would financially provide.

This degree would allow me to be an example to my daughter, show her the importance of education, and how one can do and complete all things through Christ. I also know that a BBA from King would be a huge asset to my future in business and personally give me a feeling of accomplishment and completion in my life. I want to thank you for this opportunity and for taking the time to hear my story.

Thank you

Lee Jessee

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