In a world quick to define women by the chapters they pause rather than those they reclaim, Lavana Shorter, 47, is rewriting her story on her own terms—leading with strength, faith, and the heart of a survivor.

Now, at the end of her second year at the G.C. Foster College of Physical Education and Sport, Shorter has completed her Associate’s Degree and is a proud recipient of the FHC Sports Education Scholarship, courtesy of First Heritage Co-operative Credit Union Limited. Shorter is one of three recipients. Introduced in 2023, the scholarship supports students with financial need who maintain a minimum “B” average and engage in community development—all anchored by FHC’s Youth, Education & Sports (YES) pillars. 

But Shorter is no typical undergraduate.

“Some of my distinct personality traits are that I am outgoing, straightforward, determined… and a philanthropist. When I first enrolled in 1997—a 19-year-old single mother—I wasn’t settled, mentally, physically or financially,” she shared candidly.

“Like many women, the dream of going to school took a detour for motherhood and survival. There was no one to say ‘You can do it’ or ‘I’ll help you through’. So I dropped out. But in 2023, I registered again—without knowing where the money for my tuition was coming from, just the hope to start over.”

A Sound Mind in a Sound Body

Her restart sparked something greater. Coaching had exposed her to children with special needs. Their silent screams moved her to pursue online certification through Walden University, specialising in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)—learning while healing, healing while teaching.

G.C. Foster’s motto, Mens Sana in Corpore Sano (“A Sound Mind in a Sound Body”), resonates deeply with Shorter. She walks its campus as more than a student—she’s a mother of two, mental health advocate, foundation CEO, ASD specialist, and sports announcer. Whether at Portmore United Football Club or officiating at local meets, her life is a testament to purposeful motion.

Mental health is central to her mission. Her brother’s suicide during her first-year exams left a lasting impact. “All my lecturers came to me that day. I said, ‘If you crowd me, that will break me’. I sat my exams and it was after, that I broke down” she recalled. “God is my comforter, and I’ve had support—from the late Mr. Gibbs Williams to the wider staff and student body. I appreciate the love here at our school. It is a place that gives me the strength to show up.”

And show up, she does. Encouraged by mentor Caroney Gregory, she applied for the FHC Sports Education Scholarship, even with doubts. “I said, ‘Mi nah get it’. But God showed me I am favoured,” she reflected. The FHC scholarship gave her the freedom to focus on coursework, participate in extracurriculars, and pour back into the G C Foster community without the burden of balancing or chasing part-time jobs—a chance she doesn’t take for granted.

“Even when I got the call about the [scholarship] interview, it humbled me to not doubt the process. This award has lifted a major weight. It is motivation to reach my academic targets as well as my personal and professional goals, and serve more. For this, I am eternally grateful,” she said.

Shorter is now pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree in Coaching and Sports Administration with a minor in Sports Management—and planning to go even further. “At this age, there’s no reason to stop. Many scholarships, cut off at 30 or 35. I’m pushing past those limits.”

Greatest Champions

From officiating at Champs to roles with the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission and the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association, Shorter has shaped her space in sports—including as a high jump technical official when few women were involved.

Her grown children are her biggest cheerleaders. “So many times I wanted to give up, but my daughter would say, ‘Mommy, you never gave up on us. We’re not giving up on you’,” an emotional Shorter shared. 

She has witnessed and pushed the evolution of women in sports. “I lobbied for more females in the field. Now, numbers are balanced.”

Yet, she believes more must be done. “We need more resources, more funding, and more respect for sports educators. We live in a society where sports educators are not recognised for their capabilities to teach beyond their scope. Our knowledge isn’t one-dimensional—we teach more than sports—we teach science, language, life skills. Investment in this field is vital.”

Shorter’s credentials and life story bridge sports, education, and mental health in transformative ways. Through her foundation, Firstclass Tutoring, and as an ASD specialist, she’s designing inclusive, sport-based interventions to build motor and cognitive skills.

“Just giving a child the opportunity to kick or throw a ball, you immediately see how it helps to change their mental state. I want to educate them and incorporate sports into their development. Parents of my students have even encouraged me to start a track club, and I’m seeing how it makes a difference in their lives and their children’s lives,” she shared.

To future FHC scholarship hopefuls, her advice is direct: “Don’t second-guess it. Apply. You won’t regret it. I used to say that if I didn’t stop back then, I would be a professor now. But I’ve stopped questioning the timing. I am needed in a time like this.”

Shorter’s journey wasn’t a smooth sprint on a freshly marked track, but a winding path filled with hurdles—the ones rarely acknowledged at the finish line. She isn’t just studying coaching—she’s embodying it, guiding others through their own hurdles with wisdom and grace.

“Finish what you start,” she says, “because in a race, what matters is that you finish with your head held high.” Lavana Shorter’s remarkable comeback isn’t just about personal grit—it’s a powerful example of what’s possible when individuals are supported by institutions that believe in their potential. The FHC Sports Education Scholarship didn’t just lift the weight of tuition; it reignited a dream. It created space for healing, learning, and giving back.

Through its unwavering commitment to youth, education, and sports, the FHC Foundation, backed by the First Heritage Co-operative Credit Union, continues to invest in stories like Shorter’s—stories of hope, renewal, and excellence against the odds.

As a conduit for change, FHC Foundation doesn’t just award scholarships; it builds bridges to brighter futures, reminding us all that it’s never too late to start again.