Jenna’s Journey from Opportunity to Legacy

How one student’s life-changing scholarship inspired the Foundation’s youngest Legacy Society member.

Jenna Cruz receiving her first Sterbenz-Ryan scholarship award letter.

Jenna’s path to college wasn’t straight or easy—but it ultimately led her somewhere unexpected. Once a scholarship recipient whose education was made possible through the generosity of others, Jenna is now the St. Croix Valley Foundation’s youngest Legacy Society member, ensuring that future students will have the same chance she did. Her story is one of persistence, belief, and the powerful full-circle impact that can begin with a single act of generosity.

Not always an exemplary student, Jenna had to find her rhythm over time. “I struggled at first and had to figure out how to learn in a way that worked for me,” she recalls. Like many non-traditional students, Jenna balanced uncertainty with determination, learning through experience that progress doesn’t always follow a straight line.

Over time, she found her groove—and with it, a growing belief in herself. She discovered that education could open doors she once thought were closed. Still, the financial pressure of pursuing a degree weighed heavily, threatening to pull her focus from learning toward simply getting by.

Receiving the Sterbenz-Ryan Scholarship changed that trajectory. “That scholarship didn’t just help pay for college; it told me someone believed in me,” Jenna says. “It gave me the confidence and freedom to focus on learning, rather than worrying about finances.” For the first time, she felt supported not only materially but also emotionally, seen and trusted by people she may never meet and whose generosity carried real meaning.

That belief became a turning point. With scholarship support, Jenna fully immersed herself in her studies, built confidence in her abilities, and graduated prepared for the workforce. Today, she is a successful professional, grateful for the opportunity that allowed her to thrive both academically and personally.

But the impact of that generosity didn’t end with a diploma. It stayed with Jenna, shaping how she thinks about gratitude, responsibility, and community. She often reflected that her opportunity existed because someone else—at some point—made a thoughtful, forward-looking decision to give.

“I realized that the scholarship was only possible because someone planned ahead,” Jenna explains. “They thought about the future, about people they might never know. That really stuck with me.”

Jenna Cruz, Associate Communications Specialist at Metro Transit & Mathematician

That realization planted a seed. Jenna began thinking about what it means to give back—not someday in the distant future, but intentionally and thoughtfully, starting now. Through conversations with the St. Croix Valley Foundation, she learned about planned giving and the Legacy Society: a community of donors who have included the Foundation in their estate plans to ensure their values live on.

Although she is early in her career and life, Jenna made the decision to include the Foundation in her estate plans—becoming the Foundation’s youngest Legacy Society member.

“People think estate planning is something you do much later,” she says. “But for me, it felt empowering. It’s not about how much you have—it’s about being clear on what matters to you.”

Jenna’s choice reflects wisdom beyond her years: an understanding that legacy is defined not by age or wealth, but by intention. By joining the Legacy Society, she ensures that the same kind of support she once received will be available to future students—especially those whose paths may be uncertain or unconventional.

“I want to give back the way someone gave to me,” Jenna says. “This is my way of paying it forward and helping the next student find their path.”

Jenna’s story is a powerful reminder that anyone, at any stage of life, can choose to make a lasting impact. Legacy giving isn’t reserved for retirement—it’s a way to align your values with the future you want to help build.

Through the Sterbenz-Ryan Scholarship, one thoughtful act of generosity changed Jenna’s life. Through her own legacy gift, Jenna is extending that impact—transforming gratitude into action, and belief into opportunity for future generations.