Dell Scholar Aspires to Enrich the Lives of At Risk Teens
Raised in a single-parent home in North Philadelphia, Donyel Gaymon appreciates that she has had an important advantage over other teens in her situation. Donyel enjoys the love, support and encouragement of a close family assisting her in achieving educational success.
When Donyel became a teenage mother during her sophomore year of high school, her mother, grandmother, aunt, and uncle ensured Donyel had a supportive home environment for pursuing her education and raising her daughter Aamira. Unlike many of her peers, Donyel was able to balance teenage motherhood, extracurricular activities, and her responsibilities at home with her schoolwork. She carried AP level classes throughout high school, including AP Saturday courses, and remained on the honor roll.
Also helping Donyel to succeed was Philadelphia Futures. She enrolled in the organization’s after school Sponsor-a-Scholar enrichment program which provided individual mentorship, tutoring, and college preparatory curriculum that motivated Donyel to excel in her classes. It also connected her with the Dell Scholars Program. Donyel graduated with her class from Strawberry Mansion High School in June 2010, and thanks to the funding provided by the Dell Scholars program is preparing for her future work with at-risk youth.
Attending Penn State Abington
Donyel was accepted to her first college of choice, Penn State Abington, where she is majoring in psychology. She worked closely with her professors and tutors on campus and her first semester went well. She credits the Philadelphia Futures program for preparing her for the demands of college level academics, including the summer university program she attended that emphasized the importance of library, English and Math skills. She is also very grateful to the Dell Scholars program for its support beyond her academic needs.
“I would never have thought I would have gotten as big a scholarship, or even a computer and printer. If I could hug them, I would,” says Donyel. She added, “I found the Dell Scholars program very helpful. One of the consultants really helped me out with situating everything…from whether to stay home or move and sending the scholarship information to my school, to the details of receiving my first check and working out a budget for housing. And the information they provide online is very helpful. I’m very appreciative.”
The Dell Scholars Program awards deserving students, such as Donyel, with $20,000 individual scholarships to continue their higher education. Additionally, students are provided with technology, resources and mentoring to ensure they have the support they need to obtain a college degree. The program has achieved a retention rate of almost 95 percent, well above the national average of 23 percent for students with the same socioeconomic profile. The Dell Scholars Program was named the 2008 “Scholarship Provider of the Year” by the National Scholarship Providers Association because of its unique scholar profile and retention success.
Outlook
As Donyel’s family continues to provide moral support and child-care assistance while she is earning her degree, she recognizes that many young women and men do not have the support or passion to continue their education. Her goal is to open a community organization offering a support system of after-school enrichment and counseling for teen moms and dads and teens living in fatherless or foster homes that encourages education and productive lives away from the violence of the streets.
Her commitment to helping others and her community is already finding expression through social media where Donyel has reached out to advise other young moms. “I tell them continue on with your education and don’t stop. Because you have to do it not just for you, but for your child now.”