Precious Hardy says it took a village of support to get her where she is today. Her strong mother was very important in that 'village.' At Lincoln University in Jefferson City, she answered an ad for work because she had run out of money. The work was with Dr. Mara Aruguete in Psychology. Together they authored what came to be known as the Student Support Needs Scale. Now she is writing her dissertation for her PhD in Educational Psychology at Mizzou and is part of the Graduate Scholars of Excellence who mentor and recruit disadvantaged students.