Month: November 2023

11.01.2023
Sallie Mae Awards $250,000 in Scholarships to Increase Access to Higher Education
To commemorate National Scholarship Month, Sallie Mae announced the latest recipients of its Bridging the Dream Scholarship for High School Seniors. The Sallie Mae Fund, the company’s charitable arm, has partnered with Thurgood Marshall College Fund for the last three years to award scholarships to deserving under-resourced and underrepresented students.
This year’s 27 deserving high school students were awarded up to $10,000 each to access higher education.
The diverse and impressive Bridging the Dream scholarship recipients were selected from more than 1,100 applicants nationwide and a majority are attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities. They are pursuing a diverse range of degrees, including criminal justice, musical theater, social work, engineering, and more.
Meet this year’s outstanding students.
2023-2024 Bridging the Dream Scholarships Recipients

Mohamed Adam
Hometown: New Hyde Park, N.Y.
College: Stony Brook University
Major/Minor: Political Science and Economics

Nicholas Allen
Hometown: Milton, Ga.
College: North Carolina A&T University
Major/Minor: Biology, Business Finance and Engineering

Azhyia Clemons
Hometown: Rochester, N.Y.
College: North Carolina Central University
Major/Minor: Pre-Law, Political Science and Accounting

Madison Corzine
Hometown: Fort Worth, Texas
College: Spelman College
Major/Minor: Political Science

Emery Delbridge
Hometown: McDonough, Ga.
College: Savannah State University
Major/Minor: Environmental Science

Na’Zari Donegal-Pringle
Hometown: Wilmington, Del.
College: Delaware State University
Major/Minor: Business

Nyela Harrison
Hometown: Hayward, Calif.
College: Hampton University
Major/Minor: Systems, Organization and Management

Nakeia Jones
Hometown: Conway, Ark.
College: Middle Tennessee State University
Major/Minor: Audio Production

Anna Kaplan
Hometown: Centreville, Va.
College: Oakland University
Major/Minor: Musical Theatre

Victoria Latino
Hometown: Mine Hill, N.J.
College: Niagara University
Major/Minor: Criminal Justice

Dominic Lee
Hometown: Kennesaw, Ga.
College: Clark Atlanta University
Major/Minor: Pre-Law, Business, Marketing, Communications and Spanish

Marcellus Odum
Hometown: Lake Cormorant, Miss.
College: Georgia Institute of Technology
Major/Minor: Mechanical Engineering and Public Policy

Nydia Phillips
Hometown: Texas, Ala.
Major/Minor: Southern University and A&M College
Major/Minor: Business

Andrew Pierre
Hometown: Lanham, Md.
College: Bowie State University
Major/Minor: Computer Science and Engineering

Reyna Porter
Hometown: Lithonia, Ga.
College: Howard University
Major/Minor: Theatre Arts and Sports Medicine

Chayil Rattler
Hometown: Stockbridge, Ga.
College: Jackson State University
Major/Minor: Mass Media Arts, Theatre

Tyson Redding
Hometown: Fontana, Calif.
College: University of Hawaii of Manoa
Major/Minor: Education, Business and Animation

Maya Stepnick
Hometown: Toledo, Ohio
College: The Ohio State University
Major/Minor: Environmental Science or Social Work (Undecided)

Jared Wilder
Hometown: North Charleston, S.C.
College: Hampton University
Major/Minor: Physics and Biology

Sydney Wright
Hometown: Richmond, Va.
College: Norfolk State University
Major/Minor: Broadcast Journalism

Makaila Young
Hometown: Oswego, Ill.
College: Xavier University of Louisiana
Major/Minor: Biology, Chemistry and Spanish

Ka’Mya Anderson
Hometown: Horn Lake, Miss.
College: Alabama A&M University
Major/Minor: Biology

Sienna Stewart
Hometown: Gahanna, Ohio
College: Kentucky State University
Major/Minor: Environmental Science

Alexander Young
Hometown: Douglasville, Ga.
College: Morehouse College
Major/Minor: Cybersecurity

Devin Dixon
Hometown: Ellenwood, Ga.
College: Tuskegee University
Major/Minor: Veterinary/Animal Sciences

Matthew Payne
Hometown: Jonesboro, Ga.
College: Fort Valley State University
Major/Minor: Electrical Engineering
Milan Rothe
Hometown: Lakeway, Texas
College: Howard University
Major/Minor: Herbal Medicine, African Studies and Business Marketing