A NEW PLAN-CAKE Freshman Austeja Buivydaite paid her tuition through a pancake fundraiser. Many students fund their education wich scholarships and financial aid, but freshman Ausceja Buivydaite found aid through a pancake fundraiser. Buivydaite did not hear about Harding until later in her high school career; when it came time to apply for college, Harding was not where she pictured herself. Before her junior year ofhigh school, Buivydaite moved to Arkansas from Lithuania. As a former member of the Lithuania Women's NationalBasketball Team for her age group, Buivydaice excelled while playing for Providence Academy in Rogers, Arkansas. Colleges quickly took interest in her, and she planned to pursue basketball after high school. This dream quickly changed when Buivydaite tore her ACL before she began her senior season. "It was a big shock to us," Buivydaite said. "All my plans changed. I was like, 'What am I gonna do?' I didn't even think to go here because I was expecting to get a basketball scholarship. I was really worrying about it." Buivydaice contemplaced moving back to Lithuania and letting go of the plans she had to attend college. She said education was expensive in the United States, and, without a basketball scholarship, no other option seemed feasible. Buivydaice's friend from high school freshman Riley Fox and his mother, Beth Ann Fox, wanted to help in any way they could. The Fox family had connections to Harding, and Beth Ann Fox told Buivydaice she wanted to show her the campus. "She wasn't sure if she should move back home," Bech Ann Fox said. "I said, 'I want to take you to visit Harding.' We began to pray that God would open doors." This prayer was soon answered as the Fox family opened the doors co a pancake breakfast fundraiser to go toward Buivydaice's tuition. From 8 a.m. until noon, Bech Ann Fox and her mother flipped pancakes for a line of people who were just as eager to donate as they were to eat. "God was working through a lot of people, and a lot of people donated to me," Buivydaice said. "I look back, and I'm like, 'Why was I worrying?' It was God providing me with so much." Through all of the donations and scholarships given to Buivydaice, she was able to attend Harding. After becoming a student, Buivydaite became very involved on campus. She joined women's social club Ioca Chi in fall 2018 and loved being with the other women in the club. Sophomore Emma Bates became close to Buivydaice as her "big sister" in Iota Chi. "Ausceja brings a lot of joy to our club," Bates said. "She just always has a really giving heart." For Buivydaite, giving shaped her journey. It was a cornerstone in her story, and she wanted to give to others through nursing someday. story by Zach Bissell On Nov. 13, 2018, freshman Austeja Buivydaite accomplishes her dream ofstudying at Harding after a pancake fundraiser paid her college tuition. Buivydaite originally planned to attend college through an athletic scholarship but could no longer play due to an injury during her senioryear ofhigh school. I photo by Sterling McMichael
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