2024 Scholarship Cycle
Shattering Glass Ceilings Scholarship is pleased to announce the winners of our 2024 scholarships. We awarded scholarships to 9 women who are all first-generation college students and are between the ages of 18 and 28 years old. Each recipient received up to $1000 in scholarship aid, which was sent directly to the institution of higher learning to offset loans or direct tuition payments made by the student.
Lakeia Alasad-Craig was selected to be the recipient of our second annual Shattering Glass Ceilings Scholarship award made in honor of Dr. Tonya Gscheidle Henderson. Dr. Henderson graduated from Colgate University in 1998 and died after a long battle with cancer. Like Lakeia, Dr. Henderson was the first person in her family to graduate from college. She was a community builder and created lasting friendships in every corner of her campus life. She had grit and determination, and after graduating from Colgate, she went on to earn a PhD in Psychology. Shortly before her death, she won School Psychologist of the Year for the state of Oklahoma. We wish Lakeia and all our scholarship recipients the best as they work toward their goals.
Shattering Glass Ceilings Scholarship’s 2024 Recipients
Lakeia Alasad-Craig
Age: 19
Where Lakeia grew up: Detroit, Michigan
Where Lakeia now lives: East Lansing, Michigan
Lakeia’s college and academic year: Michigan State University, Sophomore
Area of Study: Psychology major, Minor in African American & African Studies
Why Lakeia is pursuing a post-secondary education: “To present myself with better opportunities & to pursue a career that’ll allow me to help others.”
Read more about Lakeia
Rebeca Gabrie
Age: 21
Where Rebeca grew up: Houston, Texas
Where Rebeca now lives: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Rebeca’s college and academic year: University of Pittsburgh, Senior
Area of Study: Major, Psychology; Minor, Neuroscience
Why Rebeca is pursuing a post-secondary education: “I hope to become a human factors engineer.”
Read more about Rebeca
Fatima Guzman
Age: 23
Where Fatima grew up: El Salvador, San Salvador City
Where Fatima now lives: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Fatima’s college and academic year: Community College of Allegheny
Area of Study: Nursing
Why Fatima is pursuing a post-secondary education: “Because I would like to be able to help my community and make my mom feel proud of me.“
Read more about Fatima
Nariyah Harris
Age: 18
Where Nariyah grew up: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Where Nariyah now lives: East Lansing, Michigan
Nariyah’s college and academic year: Michigan State University, Freshman
Area of Study: French Education
Why Nariyah is pursuing a post-secondary education: “I am pursuing post-secondary education because I want to make school a more welcoming experience for students. I had a hard time in middle and high school so as a teacher I am hoping to make my classroom a safe, inclusive space for all students.”
Read more about Nariyah
Yanjing Huang
Age: 25
Where Yanjing grew up: Fujian, China and Boston, MA
Where Yanjing now lives: Pittsburgh, PA
Yanjing’s college and academic year: Carnegie Mellon University, first year of graduate school
Area of study: Master of Information Systems Management – Business Intelligence and Data Analytics
Why Yanjing is pursuing a post-secondary education: “I am pursuing a post-secondary education because I want to become a well-rounded data scientist capable of solving complex, real-world problems through data-driven insights. For me, higher education is not only a pathway to advancing my career but also an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to my community. By honing my analytical skills, I hope to develop innovative solutions that drive positive change and create a lasting impact on the world.”
Read more about Yanjing
Betty Kromah
Age: 21
Where Betty grew up: Riverdale, MD
Where Betty now lives: Pittsburgh, PA
Betty’s college and academic year: University of Pittsburgh, Class of 2025 (Senior)
Area of Study: Social Work
Why Betty is pursuing a post-secondary education: “As a first-generation student from a low-income background, I was influenced to pursue higher education by my family who viewed higher education as a ticket to upward mobility. I had an idea of the career I wanted to pursue but nothing was set in stone. I envisioned myself in a helping profession where I contribute to positive changes in peoples’ lives, but I didn’t know what profession spoke to me. As such, I found it necessary for me to attend college to find out what career I wanted to pursue. Despite my initial uncertainty about college, I kept an open mind to the possibilities for personal and professional development and began my journey into higher education. With the added support of my hometown community and organizations dedicated to helping me navigate higher education as a first-generation college student, I felt compelled to provide similar kinds of support for people in similar communities with the career I chose.”
Read more about Betty
Huyen Nguyen
Age: 21
Where Huyen grew up: Vietnam
Where Huyen now lives: Annandale, Virginia
Huyen’s college and academic year: University of Pittsburgh, Senior
Area of Study: Health Informatics, Pre-Dental
Why Huyen is pursuing a post-secondary education: “Pursuing post-secondary education is an essential step in shaping my future and overcoming barriers as a low-income, first-generation student. It is not just a path to achieving my professional aspirations but also a means of giving back to my community and my beloved immigrant parents, whose sacrifices have made me who I am today. For me, education is not only about personal growth but also about creating opportunities to bring happiness to others. By pursuing a career in health informatics and dentistry, I hope to use my skills to address disparities in healthcare, ensure access to quality care, and bring smiles to those who need them most.”
Read more about Huyen
Sydney Repasky
Age: 23
Where Sydney grew up: Monongahela, Pennsylvania
Where Sydney now lives: Monongahela, Pennsylvania
Sydney’s college and academic year: University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Second-Year Law Student
Area of Study: Law
Why Sydney is pursuing a post-secondary education: “I am pursuing a post-secondary education because I believe that earning a Juris Doctorate degree will open doors to many opportunities and experiences that I otherwise would not have access to. I am excited to use the law as a tool for positive change and to continue shaping my personal and professional identity in this field.”
Read more about Sydney
Alexandra Stuart
Age: 19
Where Alexandra grew up: Numerous cities, but was from Peachtree City, Georgia
Where Alexandra now lives: East Lansing, Michigan
Alexandra’s college and academic year: Michigan State University, sophomore
Area of Study: Animal Science
Why Alexandra is pursuing a post-secondary education: “I want to go to school to become a DVM and cure Animal Cancer. This surfaces from when my service dog got cancer as a puppy. I want to be able to change the world.”
Read more about Alexandra