Celebrating our 2025 Granite Edvance graduates

Jennifer Schaffner

Jenn Schaffner is used to reinventing herself, both in the real world and in her community theater roles, so she’s unbothered by the idea that she doesn’t know exactly what’s next.  A Communications Specialist here at Granite Edvance, Jenn graduated from Southern New Hampshire University this month with an M.S. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. “I know it’s prepared me for whatever is in store,” she said.  

Jenn is grateful that Granite Edvance supported her in completing her degree, not only by providing tuition reimbursement but by encouraging her to further her education. “These past few months, so many people have asked about my countdown to completion – it made me smile every time,” she said. “Returning to school was daunting and terrifying, but I did it! If I can do that, I can do anything!” 

Carla Peacock and daughter, Claire

Claire Peacock’s dream is to be a physical therapist for a dance company, helping injured dancers get back on stage. That makes a lot of sense to her mom, Carla, who has seen Claire turn negatives into positives time and time again. Growing up with learning differences, Claire developed grit at an early age. “Things don’t come easy to her… but she’s really driven to learn,” said Carla, North Country Pathways and Funding Specialist for Granite Edvance.  

That drive was helpful last year when the school she’d been attending for three years abruptly closed and Claire found herself starting her senior year at a new school. “She’s now come to a place of being able to say, ‘while I never would have wished for this, in some ways it has prepared me for college a year early,’” Carla said.  

With that attitude, Claire may even learn to love the less-than-tropical weather of the Mid-Atlantic. Though she’d hoped to attend a school somewhere far away from New England winters, Claire was drawn to the dance program at Goucher College in Towson, Maryland. When she and her mom visited the school last winter, Carla was worried that Claire would be conflicted. “But from the moment we stepped on campus, I watched her shoulders drop,” Carla said. “It was clear within the first few minutes that she was very comfortable.”  

Claire, who graduates from the Lyndon Institute in Vermont on June 8, plans to double major in dance and biological sciences.  

Carol Cray and son, Owen

Our kids eventually get too big to carry on our backs, but we parents rarely outgrow the urge to help them. When Carol Cray began work as Granite Edvance’s Community Outreach Manager last year, she was happy that she could help her son, Owen, tap into Granite Edvance’s storehouse of expertise. “Granite Edvance has supported me by providing me with resources to help me make my college decision and to apply for many local scholarships,” Owen said. “Over the course of the last few months, I’ve gone through the highs and lows of applying for colleges and scholarships. Though it has been tedious at times to write essay after essay, it was worth it.” 

Owen graduates from Bow High school on June 13 and heads to Bryant University in Smithfield, RI, in the fall. There, he’ll study business in the 3+1 Accelerated Fourth Year MBA program, and, if all goes well and time allows, play club baseball.