Mark Music Memorial Scholarship

Jaimie Lee Pierson Wins
Mark Music Memorial Scholarship for 2005-2006
for a Second Year

Because of her persistence, tenacity and positive outlook in the face of adversity, Jaimie Lee Pierson will again be the recipient of the Mark Music Memorial Scholarship for the academic year, 2005- 2006. Ms. Pierson is attending Boise State University where she studies music and education, two of her passions. She wants to be a elementary education music teacher. There is no doubt that she will reach that goal and many more.

Jaimie graduated from Borah High School in Boise in 2004. Throughout all of her years of schooling, Jaimie faced barriers and hurtles related to her epilepsy, side effects from medications and difficulties with her studies. As she stated in her scholarship application essay, “I had a lot of trouble understanding things and never knew why.” She also met with the prejudices that come when others are ignorant of the disorder. In short, her challenges have been both academic and social. With determination, Jaimie has sought solutions to these issues, experiencing both successes and failures. Her resourcefulness and self-direction have made it possible for her to self-advocate and as a consequence find the right path to education and career.

During her high school years, Jaimie volunteered at Jefferson Elementary School. In addition, she volunteered long hours of service to the Boise River Festival working in the children’s area.

In her personal life, Jaimie demonstrated remarkable maturity as she helped her mother cope with the daily demands of caring for her elderly and ailing grandmother. At a time when most young women would focus solely on their own needs, Jaimie devoted selfless time to her grandmother, seeing to her physical and emotional needs.

The Epilepsy community congratulates Jaimie Lee Pierson for her accomplishments and for being chosen for the Mark Music Memorial Scholarship.

2004-2005 Recipient

While members of the Epilepsy Foundation of Idaho scholarship committee reviewed Jaimie Pierson’s application, they recognized that she demonstrated many of the qualities that made Mark Music an outstanding person. After developing epilepsy at the age of 11, Mr. Music was determined to lead a full life regardless of his seizure disorder. He approached all of life’s challenges with an uncommon commitment and a positivism that included tenacity and integrity. Because Jaimie’s approach to her own epilepsy mirrors those very qualities, committee members felt there was no better candidate for the Mark Music Memorial Scholarship. Jaimie is using her scholarship to peruse her career in education at Albertson College of Idaho.

When she was younger, Jaimie faced as many as ten absence seizures a day. About once every six months she would have a tonic clonic, or grand mal seizure. She was prescribed one medication after another, all of which came with unacceptable side effects. Progress at school was thwarted because of seizure activity and medications. In addition to academic difficulties, Jaimie was faced with disappointments in sports; she had to give up some of the sports in which she used to participate. Finally in 2001 the right medication was introduced, and from there Jaimie took off. Grades improved. She became involved in a number of community service projects, devoting many hours to the Boise River Festival. She applied to Big Brothers/Big Sisters to be a big sister. She worked countless hours in a second grade classroom, helping to foster a warm classroom atmosphere with her kind and gentle work with the students.

Teachers and others, in letters of recommendation, praised Jaimie for her careful and accurate work, her honesty, her dependability, her good standing as a student. She never waited when she saw a job that has to be done. She always took the initiative and made things happen.

With these qualities, Jaimie Pierson is a role model for all Idaho youth with epilepsy. Her own future students will benefit from what she has accomplished while facing the challenges presented by her epilepsy.

Return to EFI Scholarship Info. | Return to Mark Music Scholarship
Return to EFI Main Page

QUESTIONS - PLEASE CONTACT:

Epilepsy Foundation of Idaho
310 West Idaho
Boise, Idaho 83702
(208)344-4340
epilepsyidaho.org