Parent Spotlight: M.O.S.T. Means More than Financial Support

Next Spring, Briarcrest Christian School football standout Jordan Brown will graduate from high school. With the drive and the talent to play at the college level and with the goal of earning a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree and starting a practice, he’s spending the months before May 2025 lining up as many higher ed options as possible. With his mom, Carolyn Ferguson, at his side, he’s already well on the way.

“He's been accepted to the University of Chattanooga. He's been accepted to Mississippi State University. He’s applying to Tennessee State University,” said Carolyn. “He's been actively recruited by Bethel University, and he’s looking at the University of Southern California. It would be hard for me to have him go so far, but this is his life. This is his opportunity to live to the fullest, and I want him to be happy. I want him to enjoy what he does and be an honest, respectful man, who gives back to the community.”

Carolyn’s commitment to Jordan’s well-being is what led them to M.O.S.T., when he entered 1^st Grade at Christ the Rock Christian Academy. She applied, and the M.O.S.T. Scholarship helped her close the gap on the school’s tuition.

“M.O.S.T. provides us with support that we need throughout periods of financial difficulties, and every member of the staff I’ve dealt with has been amazing in additional ways,” said Carolyn. “Abbey reaches out to Jordan to ask after him and discuss his path as a student and when I was out of commission with a broken leg, she checked on us. I’m grateful not only for the financial support but also for mental support. M.O.S.T. has helped me grow Jordan to the young man that he is today.”

Jordan moved to Briarcrest in 6^th Grade, settling in among his peers immediately. Excelling in the sciences, his grades are consistently high and entering 9^th Grade his obvious leadership skills earned him an additional merit-based M.O.S.T. McDonnell Scholarship, on top of his needs-based scholarship. He’s a member of the Wilson Society, a civic leadership program at Memphis area high schools facilitated in partnership with the Kemmons Wilson Family Foundation, LITE Memphis, and Bridges, USA, and serves as his school’s Commissioner of Student Activities. Carolyn is grateful that Jordan has been able to blossom as an athlete and a learner at a school perfectly matched to his needs.

“We are products of our environment and the places that we choose for our kids to go to have a way of transforming a young person according to the environment,” she said. “He couldn’t have grown up and been educated in this environment without M.O.S.T. He's just a very outstanding young gentleman.”

“The contributions that donors give to M.O.S.T. create opportunities that are lifelong for a child, helping them grow and tap their potential. Every penny given to M.O.S.T. is beneficial, whether it's $5 or $1,000, or $10,000,” said Carolyn.

“To be able to contribute to something that has the power to change a child's life, to make a difference, is an amazing opportunity for those who can. If a person is interested in giving back to Memphis to make it a more prosperous place with opportunities for more people, a donation to M.O.S.T. is a wise way to do that.”