Scholarship Recipient Briauna Portis-McClendon

"I cannot explain how much scholarship support means to me being that I am paying for my education out of pocket outside of my financial aid. I grew up in Columbus, Ohio, graduated from Eastmoor Academy last year, and I am now a sophomore at The Ohio State University.

So far, I am really enjoying Ohio State and I recently declared a double major in public affairs and city and regional planning. I chose these two majors because I have a passion for helping others as well as being creative and innovative. I want to restore our urban communities by making them more vibrant and clean, helping them with resources, and making an impact on our education system with affordable healthcare and housing. Also, every opportunity I get I want to help those individuals who make up our urban communities. Many have given up hope and/or are comfortable with their situations, but I strongly believe in raising people higher and letting them know that they are not defined by their environment or their mistakes and they have a purpose here on this Earth.

This year at Ohio State, I will start off as an Ohio State Welcome Leader, helping students move in, and I will be heavily involved in my campus ministry, called The Body of Christ, which is connected to my church, Hope City House of Prayer (HCHOP). I will also join MUNDO, a Residence Life initiative and student organization for students who want to learn about and be part of social change at the local, national and global level using service, learning, and leadership. In addition, I will be mentoring middle and high school girls with the nonprofit, She EmpowHers. I will be a mentor to either a middle or high school girl and I will empower, encourage, and establish a sisterhood. Through this I will honor, uplift, and inspire her to be unstoppable. Lastly, I love to travel, so I plan on doing a Buck-I-SERV trip.

I just want to share my gratitude and express how thankful I am to scholarship donors for helping me pursue my dream of attending Ohio State and obtaining an undergraduate degree."