By Andrea Stevens
AFRO Staff Writer
astevens@afro.com
As the school year draws to a close, five special Baltimore City Public Schools students have been awarded full-tuition scholarships to McDaniel College, a four-year scholarship valued at approximately $200,000.
The scholarships will enable the students to pursue their dreams of a higher education with less anxiety about finances.
Skye Hammond, a scholarship recipient at Western High School, has members of the medical field in her family and said she plans to follow in her aunt’s footsteps once she enters college.
“I always wanted to be in the medical field. I felt that there was a need for Black nurses, especially in labor and delivery,” said Skye, a senior at Western. “I know that Black women have a higher mortality rate in childbirth and I want to be an advocate to be able to change that.”
Skye’s mother, Tennaya Foster, expressed deep gratitude for the scholarship.
“I’m a single mother and trying to figure out how to pay for college — this is a great weight off our shoulders,” she said.
Though the scholarship was a surprise, each student already had college in mind, thanks to school-based resources.
Ashley Wiley, post-secondary advisor at Western High School, highlighted the school’s efforts to prepare students for life after graduation.
“Dr. Hall and I run the College and Career Department at Western High School, where we partner with CollegeBound to support more than 300 seniors in achieving their post-secondary goals,” Wiley said. “Together, we provide resources like college tours, internships and career and workforce guidance.”
Western’s school counselor, Dr. Alita Hall, spoke to the amazing opportunity that has been given to these students, and echoed the sentiments of the cost of today’s college education.
“There’s tremendous relief,” Hall said. “School expenses add up quickly and meeting deadlines can be a heavy financial burden. Easing that pressure allows families to focus on their child’s education. I know they’re deeply grateful for the support.”
Another scholarship recipient, Zoe Saunders, is currently a senior at the Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women. Zoe is an aspiring filmmaker whose creative drive stems from the lack of diversity in the shows she watched growing up.
“Although I could connect on some level, I just never got to see a Black girl or even a person of color just going through growing pains or solving the mystery,” said Saunders. “As a filmmaker I want to explore slashers, psychological thrillers and coming-of-age stories.”
Zoe’s parents have greatly influenced their daughter’s life by providing support, guidance and strong, positive examples of what it means to work hard and succeed. Her father, Darren Saunders, said the role of the Black father is crucial when it comes to the success of Black youths across the city and beyond. He spoke to the beliefs and values he upholds in his household.
“By nurturing and fostering her gifts and understanding what her gifts are and aren’t, we made sure we pushed her in that direction,” said Darren Saunders. “We instill faith and self-respect in our children. We are believers in God.”
Zoe’s mother, Octavia Saunders, stands as a shining example of what can happen when parents are involved, and display perseverance and dedication while raising children.
“You are your child’s biggest supporter, so you have to advocate for them,” she said. “You have to show up — it can get hard, you may get on teachers’ or administrators’ nerves–but you have to show up for your child.”