Pictured here with her family, Donna Cheney received a four-year scholarship to Grantham University.

On December 19, 2009, Grantham University, an online university dedicated to providing educational opportunities to military service men and women for nearly 60 years, announced that in partnership with MyBlueStarFlag.com, awarded a four-year scholarship to Blue Star Flag mother, Donna Cheney of Kansas City, Mo. The scholarship, valued at $36,000, covered everything including tuition costs, required textbooks, software, fees and shipping of the course materials.

Mrs. Cheney has been married for 28 years to her firefighter husband, Dave, who after battling Stage 4 Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma for the last two years, is now a cancer survivor. Together, they have four sons, all of whom are serving in the United States military. Airman First Class Jason Cheney is about to complete his Tech School at Lackland AFB, Corporal Eric Cheney just returned home after serving four years in the Marine Corps, Corporal Joshua Cheney is serving his third year in the Marine Corps at Twenty-nine Palms, and Trainee Jeffrey Cheney is in Basic Training at Lackland AFB.

“I am very proud of my family,” said Mrs. Cheney. “I have devoted my life to teaching my sons that God and Country are the most important part of everyday life.”

Now that her sons are grown, Mrs. Cheney is looking forward to achieving her dream of earning an associate degree in Multidisciplinary Studies at Grantham University. Her ultimate goal is to start an assistance group whose focus is supporting service members and veterans as they transition to civilian life.

“I can’t think of a more deserving recipient of this scholarship,” said Dr. John LaNear, president of Grantham University. “Donna is the epitome of a Blue Star Flag mother. She put her dreams on hold to raise her sons, and is now selflessly and proudly supporting them as they serve our nation.”

This blog will capture her journey to earning her degree in Multidisciplinary Studies and we welcome any feedback as well as support for Donna’s endeavor in continuing education.

I guess mother nature is working on a balance.  We had so much snow and cold this winter,  she must be giving us the heat to make us appreciate the winter.  A plus to the heat I have more time for homework because I have no desire to be outside. What happen to warn summer days where one can have breakfast on the back porch and dinner in the park.  I guess it’s not up to us.  Ok, now how about those studies.  My exams in Business Management are kicking my butt, the assignment and discussion are great but the way the question are ask in the exam… wow I know I can do better. Time to step it up.     Don’t forget sunblock!!!!

School is going ok, I am trying hard to stay ahead of my assignments, don’t know when David treatment will take more time. Have been trying to get outside more this year and exercise, just work in the yard, and the heat is deadly. Several days now at 100 Degree, my heart goes out to those that have work in the outdoors.

God bless our military as most of them are working in this heat every day all day long. We love you.

Time are tough, I wish for easier times, these classes are hitting me hard or is it the rest of the stuff in my life, today was treatment day, we drove up to Omaha on Thursday for blood work and started this morning at 8:30 am to finish treatment at 4:00 pm, then the four hour drive back home. Then I had to work on homework. Wow I am tired! Maybe tomorrow will be better.

Starting new semester today and looking forward to it. Taking  Business Communications and Stratrategies for Decision Making. Probably lots of writting this time around. Not sure what to expect from these two classes.  Got my grades finally for semester I just finished A in history and B in Business Mgmt.  Not as good as I had hoped but not bad.  The next few weeks will be hard with Dave’s treatments beginning but I will stay focused and keep ahead on my assignments, it will also give me something to think about besides the cancer. I can always study while he is getting treatments, that’s the great thing about Grantham I can work all time of the day and night. God please look after Dave and get him through these treatments, let us beat the cancer as we did before

Good day, finished my semester today, BA150 Bus.Mgmt and History Post Civil War to Present. Grades look good before the finals so  I am very hopeful.  Next week I start all over again, Bus. Communication and Stat

So I am down to the last 2 weeks of this semester and I am doing alright. This has been a fast semester, time just flies when your having fun!!!!

I have hit a low a 65% on an assessment in my Business class , have never gotten anything less than a B and it’s hurting a bit. But I will not give up and throw in the towel still have an 86% in the class I will just have to be more careful.  This has been a not so good week all of the way around.  I know I am not suppose to guestion God, he won’t give me more than I can handle but I wasn’t expecting him to hand me this one. David’s cancer is back and we now have to regroup.  I am beginning to get over the shock so that I can take the first step forward.  Please I ask for prayers, I know that prayers from friends and family got us through it the first time.

Looking good, I am finishing up with week 3 and so far so good. I am enjoying the history classes, I think I have learned more in college history than I have ever learn before. My business class is great, I feel that I am getting a good foundation for future classes.  Getting nervous with Jason’s deployment coming up soon. The time is starting to go too fast.

Great time was had by all.  Last semester went well, “A’s” in both classes. Now I started new classes, HS201  Reconstruction to Present,  BA101 Business Management. So far so good.

It’s been a nice week off between classes but looking forward to starting new classes tomorrow.  Got my grades and as I had hoped received “A’s” in History and in Criminal Justice. It takes hard work to keep on schedule that seems to be the key to make a schedule and stick with it. Don’t get behind or it’s overwhelming. I have so far been better organized and it pays off.  Spent the day with Jason at Whiteman AFB getting stuff he need and getting his Senior Airmen stripes on.  It was fun to just be part of his day. Not looking forward to him deploying but I have been through it with Eric and Josh so I know I will get through it again. I will check back in tomorrow as I start history post civil war to present and my business class. Let the sunshine soon doesn’t look good maybe tomorrow but then 6 days of possible rain, I guess it’s spring.