Take the time to meet a few of The SEED Foundation’s Scholarship recipients. These students will share their goals and their personal journeys. They each have dared to dream, dared to believe, and dared to act. These young adults are building legacies, and it is their determination to cross the finish line that inspires us to continue walking alongside them every day. We hope that hearing directly from them inspires you too.

Enjoy!

“I know what I want for my future. I am focused on obtaining a career where I can make certain that my community feels safe,” says SEED graduate Danae Bowyer (SEED DC ’23, Radford University ’27). The Radford University freshman is majoring in criminal justice with minors in leadership and crime analysis and intelligence.

As a SEED student, Danae was given the space and time to hone her confidence and self-advocacy skills. Now completing her first year at Radford, Danae was intentional about where to build relationships and committed to advancing her academic goals. “SEED taught me that no one was going to do it for me, I had to do it myself. I learned how to advocate for myself respectfully, and it’s been helping me excel. For example, my advisor and I are really close, and this has helped me make sure that I’m on the right track and don’t fall behind.”

Danae also works in the academic advising office and has leveraged that opportunity not just to learn about the range of resources available to her, but also to share what she knows with her peers. “I took on an assignment to call students and point them in the right direction if they are experiencing any challenges. I also work with them to contact their advisors and professors and help them set up meetings.”

Upon graduating from Radford University, Danae plans to pursue a career in federal service, using her talents and interests to make a positive impact through domestic security. “I’m interested in working with the Secret Service or the CIA. This summer, I will be interning with the federal government. Hopefully this will put me a step closer to my goals.”

“I want to make my own style, something recognizable and unique. I hope that when others see my work, it inspires them and helps them realize that they can do it, too.” A graphic design major, John DeHaarte (SEED Miami ’22, Florida A&M University ’26) is finding his place in college and focusing on his future.

“I have been drawing since I was a kid. I’ve always enjoyed using my hands to make things. While at SEED, my teachers helped me to realize that I could turn my passion into a career.” A college sophomore at Florida A&M, John is already making his mark by creating designs for his on-campus job at the school pharmacy and developing a web comic with a fellow SEED graduate. He plans to continue to build his portfolio while in college and then to launch his career after graduation. “There are companies out there that I really would love to work for. And design isn’t all I want to do. I also want to animate and work on web comics.”

While John is excelling academically, he has experienced some challenges, which threatened his ability to persist. For example, when his university had a housing shortage, it left him scrambling to find an off-campus apartment. During those times, he leaned on the guidance from his family, his SEED college counselor Ms. Ingraham, and his SEED college success advisor Ms. Muhammed, who—among other things—helped him locate an apartment close to campus. “I wouldn’t be here without my SEED family. The first year was a bit rough for me. I was considering going back home because I wasn’t making connections on campus. But they really motivated me to take more initiative, to be active in the community, and to stay focused on my studies. They also always check up on me to see how everything is going and how I’m doing mentally. They’re like my second moms. And when I wasn’t sure where I was going to live, I had The SEED Foundation Scholarship to help pay the first two months of the semester’s rent. This allowed me to save money from my work study job to pay for the next months.”

“My chemistry class at SEED really sparked my imagination on how things worked. Ultimately, my teacher inspired me to pursue environmental science.” Kiya Woods (SEED DC ’21, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University [Virginia Tech] ’25) is passionate about the natural world. After she completes her undergraduate degree in environmental science in 2025, she plans to secure a master’s in geographical information systems. “I have always loved the environment and wanted to know more about geology and the landforms.”

Kiya has thrived at Virginia Tech despite her journey beginning with a bit of hesitation. “It actually was not my first choice, but I’m happy that I enrolled at Virginia Tech. I have met so many interesting people and have enjoyed my college experience. I also love the campus, just seeing the landforms, and being surrounded by the mountains and stars.”

When Kiya faced uncertainty about continuing her college journey, she turned to the community that she built at Virginia Tech to reinforce her confidence. “My friends helped me find myself. People I’ve been friends with since freshman year pushed me to keep believing in myself. Being around people who support me gives me the motivation to continue.” Her SEED college success advisor Parker Martin has also been an integral part of her support network. “I have conversations with my SEED advisor about how I’m doing. She knows I have a challenging courseload, so she’ll reach out and help me make sure I’m on top of things.”

Kiya uses her SEED Foundation Scholarship award for expenses that come up throughout the school year. “The SEED Foundation Scholarship has really helped—especially with buying books. I always work over the summer and try my best to budget everything out, but then there are always miscellaneous things you have to pay for—such as field trips to different places to look at soil and other natural elements.”

When Kiya looks towards her future, she sees continued intellectual growth and an engaging career where she gets to do what she loves. She defines achievement as having a fulfilling life. “Success is always learning, always appreciating what you have, and being content.”

“I want to make the most out of my college experience. What I’m looking forward to about college is meeting new people and having new experiences. I want to do internships, and I really want to get into the courtroom. I’ve never been in one before, and I want to see what it’s like.” Clarisa (SEED MD ’24, Howard University ’28)—SEED MD high school senior and SEED Foundation Scholarship recipient is excited about enrolling in college in fall 2024. She has wanted to attend Howard University since she first visited the campus in 10^th grade, and this fall her plans are coming to fruition.

“I went to an open house that my college counselor Mr. Walden told me about. Right away, I just loved the campus, the history of the university, and everything about it.” She plans to major in English with a minor in political science before continuing to law school. Her goal is to become a criminal defense attorney and to work for criminal justice reform.

Clarisa knows that college will be a big adjustment, but her success in SEED MD’s academically rigorous program gives her confidence in her abilities. “My AP classes have set the tone because it’s college level work. I’ve also learned to study and manage my time, so that will help me with the college workload.” Like many SEED MD students, Clarisa has already experienced college courses and earned credits through SEED’s dual enrollment at Community College of Baltimore County. Her SEED college success advisor Parker Martin has also been an integral part of her support network.

As she prepares to embark on her college journey, Clarisa reflects on her time at SEED MD and what a distinctive place it is. She has developed independence and had room to grow into the person that she is today. “What I will remember most about SEED is the community. It’s a unique experience. You meet these people who start off as strangers, and they turn into your family. To have a community of people that you see every day—it’s a very different environment. We are really tight knit, and it’s a very good support system. It’s a home away from home.”

While Clarisa will be leaving the SEED MD campus, she is not leaving SEED behind. The SEED Foundation College Transition & Success team will be with her every step of the way, providing continued support through college graduation.

For ambitious and dedicated students such as Clarisa, the cost of college should not stand in their way. With your support, The SEED Foundation Scholarship will help Clarisa pay for her first-choice college. “I knew I had my heart set on Howard, and let’s face it, Howard isn’t cheap! Mr. Walden encouraged me to apply for The SEED Foundation Scholarship, and I knew it was a good opportunity.”

“Education is a huge social mobility ladder, and The SEED Foundation is a tool for economic mobility. I wouldn’t be here today talking to you as a college graduate without The SEED Foundation and The SEED Foundation Scholarship,” says SEED DC graduate, recent college graduate, and future teacher Yazmine-Gizelle Ali (SEED DC ’20, Sewanee: The University of the South ’24).

With her undergraduate degree from Sewanee: The University of the South in hand, Yazmin-Gizelle is returning to Washington, D.C. to begin a teaching career—a choice inspired by her teachers at SEED DC. She was recently accepted into the City Teaching Alliance teacher residency program at American University. “I loved how involved my teachers were. Our teachers were very hands on. I want to give that same energy to other students in DC also—I know what it means to be a DC student and want to be there for them.”

Yazmine-Gizelle’s college journey has been rich and fulfilling, though not without its challenges. She was glad to have the preparation and ongoing support of the SEED community, including her college success advisor and The SEED Foundation Scholarship. “My college journey has been interesting,” she says. “Going from DC to Tennessee wasn’t easy, but I felt supported by The SEED Foundation and my friends from SEED DC. It was a weird transition--especially because of COVID. But Mrs. Ashley Bargeron (SEED college success manager)was a steady presence through all four years for me. When I was having trouble, personally or with school, I could genuinely talk to her about what I was going through and tell her things that were personal. She was kind and patient.”

“In addition to the support provided by Mrs. Bargeron, The SEED Foundation Scholarship has been a tremendous help. The scholarship is the reason I have the laptop I wrote my thesis on. It also helped me pay for flights home during breaks and over the summer. And it provided a safety net in times of need for things like books and food.”

The SEED Foundation Scholarship also helped make it possible for Yazmine-Gizelle to study abroad in Ghana, an experience that had a profound impact on her academic and career trajectory. “Being there introduced me to a new version of academia. Going to Africa as an African American was eye-opening. While I was doing my senior thesis on the Epistemicide of the African intellect—how racism and colonization has affected Black students—I didn’t want to just write 26 pages and put it in the Google Doc. I wanted to do something about it.”

We hope you’ve enjoyed hearing from a few of our SEED Foundation Scholarship recipients!

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