Bringing Light to Generations

At President Brian Ashton’s inaugural dinner, Sister Melinda Ashton shared the impact her family’s emphasis on education had on her life:

As BYU-Pathway Worldwide continues to offer access to low-cost education, students will grow in light and knowledge, brightening opportunities for generations to come.

Connecting with the past

Joyce Forman is a 90-year-old BYU-Pathway student from Nevada, USA, and she was just a baby when she lost her mother. Of the little she knew about her mother, Joyce knew she was passionate about education.

Joyce was inspired by her mother’s example of earning a degree and wanted the same for her own six children, 33 grandchildren, 98 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson. So, at the age of 87, she said: "I'm going back to school to get my degree so when I meet my mom [after this life], I can say I got it."

Joyce started BYU-Pathway and graduated with her professional studies degree from BYU-Idaho in July 2023.

Influencing the present

Norene Jensen from Utah, USA, said, “People don’t realize the true impact of BYU-Pathway. It’s not just a ripple; it’s tidal waves.” Norene learned about BYU-Pathway from her daughter and son-in-law. After visiting one of their gatherings, she felt inspired to enroll. Since then, Norene’s other daughter and four of her grandchildren have also joined.

“Three generations of our family have enjoyed BYU-Pathway,” said Norene. “We have all supported one another through our studies. Our education will influence generations to come. I feel like I’m learning to become a disciple of Jesus Christ. It’s like He’s saying to me, ‘You’ve got it.’”

Impacting future generations

Before participating in BYU-Pathway, Ekpenyong Etim from Nigeria worried about being able to provide for his family. He said, “I was earning just enough to go on with life, and most times, I could not take care of my family.”

Ekpenyong knew he had to change something if he wanted better for his two young children. He chose to exercise faith and joined BYU-Pathway. Close to completing his associate degree, he was offered a remote job that’s helping him earn three times more than before.

Ekpenyong’s education has helped him provide for his family’s temporal needs, strengthen them spiritually, and, ultimately, give them brighter futures.