CEDAR HILL, Texas — Each year, 12 outstanding U.S. high school juniors are selected for the Bezos Scholars Program. Cedar Hill High School student Chandler Vernon is one of those students chosen for, "Demonstrating curiosity, academic rigor and leadership in their community,” according to the organization created by Jackie and Mike Bezos, parents of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos.
As a senior, Vernon is known by her fellow athletes on her softball team as someone who goes out of her way to lend a helping hand. She’s known by the girls on her team as a Miss Congeniality for the positive words of affirmation she gives during practices.
Vernon’s been playing ball since she was 10 years old and it’s just one of the many things that’s keeping her busy in her last year of high school.
“We try as educators to give kids the basics to make themselves successful,” said Vernon’s softball coach, Regis Andrea Sr., who leads the softball program at Cedar Hill High School. “Sometimes students help each other out, and that’s one of the things I really admire about Chandler whether it's out here on the softball field or out there in the community, she’s really good about trying to mentor and lead others.”
Vernon’s working on a project to help her fellow classmates learn about financial literacy as a Bezos Ambassador.
“Learning financial literacy at a young age would really just set you up for the future success,” said Vernon “It’s better to learn now rather than you trying to learn it while you’re older and you’re just kind of stuck.”
Here in Texas, about 52% of college graduates finish school with student debt averaging more than $26,000, according to the Institute for College Access and Success.
Vernon is organizing free informational sessions open to the public with the goal of teaching her peers about practical financial literacy.
“Texas has one of the highest amounts of net federal student loan debt,” said Vernon.
According to the Federal Student Aid Office, Texas’ student loan debt totals $120 billion, second only to California at $141 billion.
Vernon said she gets her passion for money management from her parents.
“How do you live in a 21st century and graduate and know more about history and know about writing a composition or algebra, but you can’t budget?” said Vernon’s mother Denise Archie Vernon.
Vernon has big ambitions that include opening an accredited bank in her high school, studying at the prestigious Columbia University, and becoming a plastic surgeon.
Her advice to younger students wanting to follow in her footsteps is simple, “You need to believe in yourself, said Vernon. “Not everybody is going to believe in you and you have to be the one to believe in yourself you know that you can do what you need to do and what you want to do.”
Vernon has helped organized the "Money Talks" series happening February 27, 2023 at the Cedar Hill High School library. Topics include learning how to manage money and a bank account.
Click here to register for the event.
“I believe that knowledge is power,” said Vernon. “It creates growth opportunities that wouldn’t be possible otherwise.”
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