My mother, Jenna Sue Souza-Furst, began a new chapter of her life when we moved to Northern California from Racine, Wisconsin, when I was two years old and she was twenty. Seeking hope and opportunity, she built a remarkable life for us through determination and hard work.

I don’t recall much about my early childhood, but I remember my mom always wanted me to look my best for school pictures. My Nana, my mom’s mother, once told me how my mom worked two jobs—at Starbucks and Holiday Market—to support and provide for me. One day, she told my Nana she’d “had enough” and enrolled in a technical college in Sacramento. I clearly remember attending her evening lectures, sitting quietly with an I Spy book she gave me to keep occupied.

My mom earned her college degree and started a career in the daylighting industry. She began at Sunoptics as a customer service agent and quickly rose through the ranks. Soon, she was flying across the western United States, giving presentations to CEOs and COOs of companies like Pepsi and Coca-Cola about the importance of natural daylight in buildings. From when I was in third through seventh grade, roughly 2013 to 2017, she was gone two to three days a week, working hard to ensure we were financially stable. She was adamant about not taking financial help from anyone, including the government, determined to provide for us on her own.

Despite her demanding schedule, my mom gave me the best childhood I could have asked for. I distinctly recall our cruise to the Catalina Islands and Baja, Mexico, when I was in third grade, around 2013. After that trip, I saw an advertisement for a week-long Alaskan cruise. Being a dreamer in third grade, I told my mom my dream vacation would be an Alaskan cruise when I turned 13. She took it to heart, and in 2016, two months before my 13th birthday, we went on that week-long Alaskan cruise, fulfilling my dream.

Her work travels also gave me incredible opportunities. I joined her on trips to New York City and Los Angeles, and she took me to Hawaii three times. I’m so thankful for those experiences, especially sharing them with her. My mom also pushed me to excel in school. I struggled during my first year of high school, but with her support, I achieved a 4.0 GPA for the rest of my high school career. She encouraged me to apply for scholarships, and I won one from the El Dorado County Republican Women Federated group for my essay, “Is America a Republic?” The award paid for my college books for two semesters.

After high school, I enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (UWGB) in fall 2021, inspired by my interest in local government and politics. I struggled during my first semester, but my mom’s encouragement helped me earn a 4.0 in the second semester of my sophomore year in fall 2022. She’d call me during my freshman and sophomore years, excitedly sharing details about her role as Second Vice President of the El Dorado County Republican Women Federated (EDCRWF), which she joined in 2022, inspired by my own involvement in politics. I stopped attending UWGB in spring 2023, and after a two-year hiatus, I returned in fall 2025. I am now pursuing a degree in Political Science and Public Administration with an emphasis in Public & Nonprofit Management, along with a minor in Management. I am on track to graduate in spring 2026.

Whenever we drove to college, my mom turned it into an adventure. Before my first year in fall 2021, we explored Yellowstone National Park. Before my second year in 2022, we camped outside Mount Rushmore and explored the surrounding area. My mom loved the outdoors. We spent summers hiking, kayaking, and fishing. One of her favorite hobbies was rock hounding—searching and digging for crystals. I didn’t particularly enjoy it, but seeing her happiness made it special. She also loved gardening, spending evenings watering her plants and getting excited when her flowers bloomed. While I was at college, she sent me pictures of her blooming flowers. One of my favorite things was sending each other sunset pictures. Being two hours ahead in Wisconsin, I loved comparing our sunsets—hers were often better than mine.

My mom always wanted the best for me, teaching me to be respectful, responsible, and kind. When I become a father one day and am half as good a parent as she was, my children will have a grateful and happy childhood.

When my mom passed away in 2023, I came up with the idea of creating a scholarship in her honor at El Dorado High School so that she could “live on” and bring happiness and success to others. I want this scholarship to shed light on mental health and mental health awareness. There is still a stigma around mental health and accessing resources. I aim to bridge that gap by offering this scholarship opportunity. Prospective scholarship award winners will write an essay explaining why mental health is important and how to promote mental health awareness. I also want students to have access to a free therapy session of their choice to try it out and see if it benefits them. Before my mom passed, my family and I tried for weeks to get her a therapist, to no avail. Offering a free therapy session will give someone who might not otherwise be able to afford or access therapy a chance to try it.

This year, the scholarship will provide $1,000 for college or trade school education, plus a free therapy session of up to $250 in value for each of two recipients: one from the El Dorado High School and another from all high schools within the El Dorado Union High School District, including homeschooled students and those in virtual academies. Based on funding available, we may elect to provide a third scholarship.

Jenna Sue Souza Furst Memorial Scholarship Fund EIN: 93-2430026

Thank you for your support,

Dylan Souza