4 minute read
Scholarships: Changing Lives & Empowering Futures
Every year, countless high school students across the country dream of attending college and pursuing their passions. However, for many, this dream is just out of reach due to financial constraints. College scholarships can help bridge the gap by providing opportunities for students to access higher education and achieve their goals. This year, the 78 graduating seniors at Harding Fine Arts Academy earned over $2.7 million in college scholarships with some earning full-rides to their university of choice.
For many students, scholarships are the only way to afford college tuition, room and board, textbooks, and other expenses associated with higher education. By reducing the financial burden, scholarships allow students to focus on their studies and make the most of their college experience.
In addition to the financial benefits, scholarships also provide students with a sense of validation and recognition for their hard work and achievements. This recognition can be especially meaningful for youth who have faced obstacles or adversity in their lives, showing them that their efforts have not gone unnoticed and that they have the potential to achieve great things. At HFAA, half of our students are from low-income families or receive free or reduced lunches, making this college scholarship program vital to many of our seniors.
Scholarships are becoming an increasingly important elements in attaining a college education, in fact according to Think Impact, in 2020, 58% of families relied on scholarships to fund a majority of their education. By enabling students’ to access higher education, scholarships open up a world of opportunities that may have been otherwise unavailable to them.
Together, we can create a brighter future for all!
Meet the Scholars
At Harding Fine Arts Academy, we are proud to announce that thanks to the efforts of the Harding Alumni Association, we were able to provide $1,000 college scholarships to four students for their academic pursuits: Maggie Calvo, Imani Carr, Noel Hillenbrand, and Darby Wallace. These scholarships are not just a financial award, but a lifechanging opportunity that will have a lasting impact on our students and their families.
Alumna Maggie Calvo loves Jesus, drums and fellowship with her friends and family. She is grateful for this scholarship because it brings new opportunities and allows her to pursue her passion for education and music. She is so thankful for this opportunity!
Imani Carr is a now alumni of Harding Fine Arts Academy. She will be attending Fordham College Lincoln Center in Manhattan, New York this Fall and majoring in Theatre. During Imani’s time at HFAA, she was a part of Thespians, Student Council, National Honor Society, Student Ambassadors, Volleyball, Advanced Speech, and Black Student Association. Imani graduated number one in her class with a 4.2857 GPA. This HFAA scholarship means a lot to her as it highlights the hard work she has put in to not only her academics, but to her school community.
Noel earned this scholarship through four years of dedication to the Academy while participating in and leading different student clubs including Female Empowerment, Student Council, Youth and Government, Film Club, Spectrum, and more. Noel was also the vice president of HFAA’s National Honor Society. Noel plans on using this scholarship while at Oklahoma State University, working towards the goal of getting a job that will serve the community.
Darby Wallace plans to attend the University of Oklahoma for meteorology in the fall of 2023. Receiving this scholarship has helped her grow more confident in her decisions for the future, and in figuring out who she is. It means so much to her that she can be considered an “ideal graduate” of Harding Fine Arts and to know that she has lived these last 4 years to the fullest.
