The Meeting Street Scholarship Fund is enhancing its efforts to ensure recipients feel supported on campus by launching a pilot Campus Ambassador program.
Twelve students were selected across five campuses – Claflin University, Clemson University, College of Charleston, University of South Carolina and Winthrop University – to build community and connect with one another.
“We wanted more connection points for our recipients so they feel more engaged on campus,” said Program Director Shila Bair. “We care about our recipients and their ability to maintain their scholarship, and we want to do what we can to support them in their college journey.”
The most important aspect of college is the classes, but if students don’t feel connected, it can affect how they’re performing academically, Bair said. The Campus Ambassador program aims to address that potential challenge, she said. Scholarship Fund leaders selected Ambassadors who were easy to relate to and already had successfully completed their first year of college.
The Ambassadors are reaching out to fellow recipients on campus regularly, whether it’s to spotlight a resource on campus or ask what musical artist they’re liking lately. Ambassadors also plan to organize at least one in-person gathering for their campus Scholarship recipients.
The hope is that the program will expand to every college or university where Scholarship recipients are enrolled.
Meet Our Ambassadors
Darryl Dickerson
The reason why I wanted to become a campus ambassador is because when I started at USC last fall, I was very nervous about what to expect from college. However, after getting comfortable with USC and learning everything that it has to offer, I began to love college. I wanted to be able to help others by being a resource for them.
Kayla Dorsey
I decided to be a campus ambassador because I wanted to spread my wings and make connections with people on campus! Being a campus ambassador has allowed me to take on a leader position and be a part of building a wonderful community of MSSF recipients.
Taliyah Fenner
Becoming a campus ambassador is a thrilling opportunity that allows me to play a core role in building a strong community among the Meeting Street Scholarship Fund recipients. I am passionate about creating a vibrant campus community where everyone feels heard and empowered. Being a campus ambassador enables me to advocate for student interests, connect with my peers, and foster a sense of belonging within our college. It’s not just about representing a brand; it’s about creating meaningful connections, organizing exciting events, and being a catalyst for positive change.
Aviance Graham
I wanted to be a campus ambassador because I wanted to get more involved inside and outside of my university. I know how difficult it would be for new students to learn their surroundings and resources that are available to them. I’ve been through it myself. Now, I am fully capable of helping others adjust well to their campus life. I hope to help as many students as possible. I want to help them see, that Winthrop University is a special place to be.
Allen Gomez
I really wanted to get more involved on campus in a way that made an impact. I feel like I can really support the mission that Meeting Street Scholarship Fund has, and I wanted to be a part of that as well. I know how scary college can be and how hard it can be to sometimes navigate especially as freshman, so I wanted to help.
Aaliyah Malloy
“I wanted to become a Campus Ambassador so I could be a voice for those on campus who feel they don’t have a voice. This a great opportunity to sharpen my leadership skills and grow as an individual.”
Bianca Perez
The reason I wanted to become a campus ambassador was to help bring our community closer. We all are experiencing similar challenges in college, so we can share our experiences and resources to help one another. Recipients were given a great helping hand with the Meeting Street Scholarship; I want to help make sure every recipient takes advantage of it at CofC. I’m looking forward to helping the MSSF bring recipients closer at CofC and on the path to success.
Daisy Perez
I wanted to become a campus ambassador to help incoming students build a sense of community on campus. From personal experience, freshman year was the most difficult since I was away from home for the first time. I was used to constantly being around people who I knew and was moved to an environment where everyone I knew was almost two hours away. I believe all recipients have the ability to do amazing things here but situations can become more difficult when we feel isolated. Our job here is to help recipients get to know each other and build a community on campus. As ambassadors, I truly believe we can help recipients feel more comfortable on campus so they can be the best they can be.
Ja’niya Sheppard
I wanted to be a campus ambassador because I wanted to be someone others could lean on as a first year student or in general! I had a difficult first year myself and providing people with the information that I didn’t know as a freshman could help students in general. We all have issues and problems in college and it’s important to have students you trust to answer your questions or give advice.
Eric Velasco
I wanted to be a campus ambassador to challenge myself as English was not my native language, and I faced difficulties in communication. I knew this position would give me great exposure to the language. Upon entering the College of Charleston, it was difficult for me to find resources to advance both professionally and academically for the same reason as the communicative challenge I had in English. This position is giving me the opportunity to guide other students and become the leader that I would have liked to have in my first year of college, in addition to trying to get closer to my Latin and Hispanic community.
