🌟 I’m a Warrior on the Rise — Help More Like Me Shine

Hi, my name is Zuri Powell, and I’m a high school senior from Brooklyn, New York. I’ve always had a passion for science and helping others, and I plan to become a Doctor of Pharmacy one day. That dream was shaped by my own health challenges—and the incredible care I’ve received throughout my life.

This year, I was honored to receive the Warrior On The Rise Scholarship from the MTS Sickle Cell Foundation. It means so much to be recognized not just for where I’m going, but for everything I’ve overcome to get here.

To prepare for my future, I’ve taken college courses at CUNY Baruch College in psychology, sociology, and finance, which helped me see how healthcare connects to people’s everyday lives. I’ve volunteered in the pediatrics department at SUNY Downstate Hospital, joined my school’s Mock Trial Team, and participated in the Changing Faces of Pharmacy program at St. John’s University. And when I need peace, I turn to crochet—I love creating tops, hats, and bags as a way to express myself.

💖 Why I’m Sharing My Story

Receiving this scholarship helped lift a huge weight off my shoulders. It reminded me that all the late nights, the health struggles, the studying, the persistence—it’s all worth it.

Now I’m asking you to help the next warrior rise.

This year, the MTS Sickle Cell Foundation was able to award 27 scholarships, up from just 10 in previous years. That’s because of people like you who believe in us. But there are so many more students like me—resilient, determined, full of dreams—who need that same support.

If my story speaks to you, please donate to the Warrior On The Rise Scholarship Fund. Your gift helps empower students impacted by Sickle Cell Disease to chase their dreams, go to college, and change the world.

Thank you for believing in me—and in the warriors who will rise next.

— Zuri