Blessing Johnson

One of my favorite artists, Kendrick Lamar, said in a recent song, “You haven’t felt grief until you’ve felt it sober”. Many individuals are grieving sober and especially in black communities. The lack of adequate resources to help alleviate some of that grief. Inadequate resources and stigma leads to individual masking their suffering in unhealthy ways which in turn just leads to more suffering. My personal experience with grief has further enlighten me of that grief people are enduring and also ensure me that I chose the right field to pursue a career in. I say all that to say that, I am extremely grateful to be awarded this scholarship. I view education as an investment for the future. I want to thank you for investing in my future and my pursuit of alleviating grief as best as I can. Which is to live up to my name and bring more Blessings to the world. Thank you again.

Bryton Conley

Dear Dr. Hayes and the scholarship panel, I just want to take the time to sincerely thank you all for choosing me as one of the winners of this scholarship. As we all know, college is very expensive, so winning this award means so much to me and my family because it lowers the cost of my journey to pursue a post-secondary education. Ultimately, I am truly grateful for everything that the scholarship will do to help me in the future and I applaud Dr. Hayes for helping to make a debt free degree a reality.

Sarah Porter

I wanted to say thank you so much for this scholarship. Winning this scholarship has given me faith that I can pursue what I have dreamed of, no matter what anyone has told me in my past. I struggled with mental health in my past and I am so grateful to open up and share my story. Again, thank you for this opportunity.

Abena Bonsu

This scholarship came to me during a time of financial insecurity about my education. It covered me through my first semester of college and gave me a confidence booster at a time when I needed it. Thank you so much!

Tyara M

To Mr. Hayes & the Scholarship Panel, With my deepest gratitude I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping a student in need fund university tuition and housing. Because of your extremely gracious contributions I am able to study effectively and serve as a leader by participating in student organizations and affairs on my campus. Thank you again for reading my essay about my struggle with mental health and overcoming it. I strive to become as great as givers as you all are. Sincerely, Thank you!

Stephanie Davis

Thank you so much for your generosity and support! This scholarship came at the perfect time to finance this term of classes. I'm humbled to share my journey to wellness with others, and I’m so grateful that it encourages others. This award is proof that God is with me in my educational journal as well!

Shahir Mohsenyan

I want to thank the donor for honoring me as a finalist for this scholarship. As someone who has been through challenges, but wants to be a role model to others, this is only the beginning. I hope others can do well in their endeavors.

Nora Obikwelu

Dear Dr. Terence O. Hayes Sr., With a grateful heart I would like to thank you for seeing my potential, giving me a chance, and choosing to award me with the $250 scholarship for the 'Ethel Hayes De-stigmatization of Mental Health Scholarship.' This money will be a big help in helping me pay for my expensive college tuition and helping to relieve my dad with some of the costs. Having the opportunity to share my story of my mental health experiences was a bit difficult for me at first, due to some of the events being a little on the heavy side, but I know that I am not alone, and that talking about negative mental health experiences is nothing to be ashamed of. I have read your story about what you have experienced, and I want to express my condolences to you for the loss of your mother. Losing someone to suicide is very heartbreaking and I understand that the pain must have been very hard for you. Especially not having anyone to talk to, you must have felt so alone. But the fact that you were able to survive, overcome, and recover those experiences makes me so happy for you! I am glad that you are doing better now and are allowing students like me to share our own experiences with mental health. Again, thank you so much for choosing me for this award. I am very grateful! Yours sincerely, Nora Obikwelu

Kayla Santiago

Thank you for considering me! I am an Honor roll student and the recipient of many certificates of accomplishments. I come from a low-income household where I am a first-generation student. I want to become a leader and role model for other young adults pursuing a career in health and medicine. I am glad you have persisted and recovered from your loss. My goal in life is to become a doctor and my mom is my inspiration. I hope I can apply again one day. Thank you again! ( ＾◡＾)っ