“Some love stories take time to unfold, and ours is one of them. Jaron Collins and I first met as teenagers at Omaha Northwest High School, but life took us on separate journeys before bringing us back together years later. Now, we are thrilled to share that we are getting married this August! Our love for each other is deeply rooted in community, family, and a shared commitment to giving back.
As a proud graduate of the University of Nebraska at Omaha, I know firsthand how education can change lives—and I wouldn’t have made it through undergrad without the unwavering support of my grandparents, Lee A. Cheatham and Ethel Louise Cheatham. When life got tough, they took me in, made sure I had everything I needed, and reminded me that if they had it, I did too. Their generosity and belief in education shaped my future, and now, Jaron and I are honored to pay it forward.
To continue the legacy of our grandparents, we established two scholarships at UNO, the Lee and Louise Promise Scholarship and the Raymond and Helen Collins Hope Scholarship. These scholarships are designed for students majoring in social work and Black studies who have taken at least one course through the Urban League of Nebraska under the North Omaha Initiative. By supporting first-generation and low-income students, our goal is to help others overcome barriers, just as our grandparents helped us.
But we’re not stopping there. We are actively fundraising to make these scholarships full-ride and renewable, ensuring long-term support for students who need it most. Our hope is to create lasting opportunities for future Mavericks while continuing the legacy of love, generosity, and education that was instilled in us. UNO played a vital role in my journey, and I am grateful to celebrate this new chapter of life—both in love and giving back to the next generation of Mavericks!”
