An investment in a brighter future

Local students who experienced homelessness win college scholarships

Sylvia Donahue, a bubbly 18year-old with a huge smile, graduated from West Allegheny High School this year. In the fall, she’s attending Penn State University to pursue hospitality management.

In fact, she has already enrolled in Penn State’s LEAP program where she’s taking two summer classes — one online and one in person. The English class is “going to be the death” of her, Ms. Donahue joked.

But her path wasn’t always so straightforward.

“I went from one home to foster care to being left out of like every single thing. They wouldn’t let me play with the big kids,” she said. “And then from there to my home now, and then things just happening at home.”

Ms. Donahue is one of the eight students who was awarded a $2,500 scholarship from the Homeless Children’s Education Fund. HCEF faculty and staff handed out the awards, along with new backpacks and school supplies, at a Friday afternoon ceremony at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Students can use the money to pay for tuition, food, clothing or other college expenses.

HCEF is a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit that supports the educational needs of the more than 3,000 children experiencing homelessness in Allegheny County. They’ve awarded scholarships to about 60 to 70 students in total.

“They work hard, and they certainly deserve it. It’s not a handout — it’s basically investing in them and all they’ve been through and how hard they’ve worked to get to this point,” said Executive Director Carlos Carter.

Recipients included graduates from Pittsburgh Brashear High School, Oliver City Wide Academy, Urban Pathways Charter School,

West Allegheny High School and Mt. Lebanon High School.

The students plan to pursue a variety of majors — business, film, nursing and engineering, among others. They will attend Slippery Rock University, the University of Pittsburgh, Bethany College, Penn State and Community College of Allegheny County

Mr. Carter was part of the competitive selection process for the award. He said many of the students’ stories brought him to tears, and that he knows they have a bright future ahead.

“People look at young people in these situations and see their weaknesses, but they have great strengths,” Mr. Carter said. “How many people could be in situations where they’re on the streets, situations where they’re bouncing around eight different schools or homes in a year? They’ve worked hard to achieve despite that, and it’s pretty remarkable to me.”

The scholarship “means a lot” to Ms. Donahue. She said she’s going to use the money to pay for tuition, which will help out her mom because she has been working a lot of overtime.

She added that HCEF is a large reason for her success.

“They helped me realize that I’m not the only one who’s been through things like this,” she said.

Sarah Simpson/Post-Gazette Entrepreneur Wadria Taylor, guest speaker at the Hope Through Learning Awards Ceremony presented by the Homeless Children's Education Fund, shares words of wisdom with the attendees on Friday in Oakland. HCEF presented a $2,500 scholarship to eight students in Allegheny County.

Sarah Simpson/Post-Gazette Maurice Plummer, of Mt. Lebanon High School, center, receives the Hope Through Learning Award from the Homeless Children's Education Fund on Friday in Oakland. Executive Director of HCEF Carlos Carter, left, and HCEF board member Shelly Brown, right, presented the $2,500 scholarship to eight students in Allegheny County.