Meet one of our Graduate Scholar Moms, Avery!
“Sophomore year of college, I found out I was pregnant. I was a student-athlete, fully immersed in dance, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in marketing with a minor in sales at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. My schedule was packed, my team was my family, and my future felt carefully planned. In a single moment, everything seemed to shift.
I remember the weight of fear, the questions about how I would continue, and the quiet worry that I might lose everything I had worked so hard for. At the time, I was also involved in Chi Alpha campus ministry, where a friend invited me to get connected. It was there that I met an incredible leader who, when I shared that I was pregnant, introduced me to Momentum Network. Through that connection, I met Cara—who welcomed me into a village I didn’t even know I needed. I didn’t receive judgment or doubt — I was met with open arms. She didn’t just offer resources; she offered friendship, guidance, and the reassurance that being a student and a mom was not only possible, but powerful. This gave me hope.
I finished out basketball season fully pregnant, quietly trusting God through every step, and stepped away only when it was time to welcome my perfectly healthy baby boy, Kaiden, into the world – a living reminder that even in uncertainty, God was writing something beautiful.
While I had many friends, none of them understood what it meant to be a mother in college. Momentum gave me a community of women who did. I found other moms who have become lifelong friends—women I can lean on, build with, and do life alongside. Through Momentum, I received practical resources like in-home nursing support and financial guidance, but more importantly, I gained a mindset shift: this wasn’t the end of my story. In many ways, it was just the beginning.
Today, I am graduating in May 2026 on time with a 3.8 GPA, honors distinction, and Dean’s List recognition every semester. I’ve completed incredible internships, worked multiple jobs, and even have job opportunities lined up after graduation, along with the chance to spend a month in Mozambique, Africa, on a mission trip. Having a baby didn’t slow me down or stop my life—it ignited something in me that launched my life into purpose. My son has been with me every step of the way —my greatest blessing, my constant companion, and the joy that fuels everything I do.
Momentum Network didn’t just support us; it helped save and shape our future. The network invested in two lives, helping rewrite a story that could have been marked by fear into one marked by faith, resilience, and overwhelming gratitude. Because of this program—and God’s faithfulness—my son and I are thriving. Today, I can truly say I have joy even in the suffering, because I know my Father is good, and He had Momentum for me.”
—Avery, 2026 UTC Graduate
