Growing up, Jerrell Lawson often fantasized about leaving his little Alabama community of Brundidge and traveling the world. He saw that people in his neighborhood did not place a high value on education. They worked and socialized, but they showed no desire to leave town. Lawson was different. He could see where he wanted to go and decided that education and athletics could help him get there. Lawson has been a star both on the field and in the classroom as a University of Tennessee at Chattanooga student-athlete. The four-year starter at defensive back earned an undergraduate degree in business management in 2019 and a master’s degree in business administration in 2021. 10
UNIVERSITY OF CHATTANOOGA FOUNDATION
“I wake up every day thinking, ‘I’m going to show all these people that they can do it. That you can be playing football and go all the way to get your master’s,’” says Lawson, recipient of the Woodrow Wolford Sr. Scholarship. Being able to attend UTC has brought Lawson “a countless number of valuable relationships and profitable knowledge and impacted my life, as well as my future, more than I would have ever imagined,” he says. “Being from a small, country town in South Alabama, being raised by a single mother of three, battling stereotypes and tons of adversity, one would think that this journey has been just a dream. “However, I can personally assure you that with the right support system and superiors that care so deeply for not only themselves but the entire culture, almost any obstacle in this world can be conquered.” Lawson is now the first member of his family to graduate from college and earn an advanced degree. “I understand how honored and privileged I am to be a recipient of this scholarship,” he says. “With every new goal I accomplish, I can guarantee that my UTC family will never be forgotten.”
