Student Spotlight
Mone’t Phillips Graduating Senior | History
I am the youngest of two daughters raised by my single mother in New Jersey. I am black of Jamaican descent. All my life, my mother struggled and sacrificed for us, especially when we moved to Paterson. We lived on the impoverished side of the city where drugs, murders, and gangs were the harsh realities we had to endure. Without my father in my life, I had to deal with that emotional pain through the help of my sister and my mother from my childhood through to adulthood. I wanted to attend a historically black college or university (HBCU) and a lady at my church gave me a booklet listing all of the HBCUs in the country. I chose North Carolina Central University because I had a strong family base of support as well as family members who were alumni. They were the biggest encouragers along with my friends who helped me gain a higher level of consciousness of the world around me and recognize the rich historical legacy of my ancestors. The Helen Gray Edmonds Scholarship was crucial to
my remaining enrolled at NCCU. I was rejected every year for parent loans which would have reduced my amount of aid. Without the support of the scholarship I received, I would have had to sit out a semester to accumulate enough funds to continue my education. Being able to stay as a full-time student has opened doors for me. I have been able to take part in various internship opportunities, participate as a research scholar at a Title I University, and receive many academic honors and awards. I have also been able to demonstrate leadership as I have held executive positions in various organizations on campus. My goal is to ultimately obtain a Ph.D. in history. Afterwards, I plan to teach and conduct historical research related to the field of African Diaspora. Words can not adequately express the amount of sincere gratitude I have. This financial support for my education will enable me to give to the students who will follow. God bless you!
Invest in the Vision
April 2009