Makayla Grison is attending Spelman College and plans to pursue a career as a Neurologist.

“I will successfully complete 4 years of undergraduate and 4 years of medical school, and an additional 3 to 4 years of fellowship, internship, and specialty training to begin my career as a neurologist. Although most people go into medicine purely for money, my interest in becoming a physician goes deeper than having a prosperous profession. Instead, it is about becoming an example for young black youth by letting them know that there are doctors who have the same skin color as them and that they are there to uplift and enhance the community.”

Micah Grison is attending Spelman College and plans to pursue a career as a Gynecologist.

“Ever since the beginning of junior year, it has always been my dream to attend Spelman College, one of the best liberal arts colleges in the country. I received my acceptance on December 31st, and I was excited because I knew that all my dreams will be able to be realized with an education from this institution. However, when I saw the cost of attendance, my heart began to sink. Even though my financial opportunities are minimal at this time, my career dreams will not be deferred. I plan to use the Provident Foundation scholarship to pay for my college tuition and fees. I will not give up on seeing my dreams come to fruition.”

Olivia Merchant is attending Johns Hopkins and plans to pursue a career as an Academic Nurse Midwife.

“I believe midwifery has a place in academia, and I will leave a legacy of high-quality maternal healthcare for Black and Indigenous mothers. In my future position as an academic nurse-midwife, I can create a culture where my nursing staff and students view the patient as the expert and leverage their roles to provide equitable care to mothers regardless of age, race, or opportunity.”

Winter Stubblefield is attending University of Illinois and plans to pursue a career as an Ob-Gyn and Toxicologist.

“At the University of Illinois, I have made strides to strengthen my experience, understanding, and passion for reproductive healthcare. My academic experiences coupled with my passion for reproductive health have prompted my interest in toxicology research. My interest in toxicology is catalyzed by wanting to offer education to African American women about chemicals and pollutant exposure, and how we are put at an elevated risk of developing reproductive disease.”

Zainab Umardeen is attending University of Illinois and plans to pursue a career as a Physician.

“As an aspiring physician, addressing the needs of underserved communities has always been a passion of mine. Over the years I have involved myself with service learning. In these programs, I have been able to gain meaningful experiences and directly engage with these communities through hands-on approaches.”