Photo Caption: While Tierra is on campus in Pennsylvania, studying and working hard, her grandmother Cheryl (center) accepted the scholarship on her behalf.

HeartShare St. Vincent’s Services American Dream Program Scholar and Lincoln University, Tierra, received a generous $1,900 scholarship from the Psi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

Since she is on campus, Tierra’s grandmother Cheryl accepting the scholarship on her behalf. The scholarship was a surprise to Tierra. Psi Lambda members Kathleen Grosvenor, Benita Miller and Gina Keller delivered the news over the phone.

“We want to help you along in your academic journey,” Benita Miller said to Tierra, who can use the scholarship for books, clothes and living expenses. The scholarship is a part of the sorority’s commitment to new dimensions of service, particularly the ASCEND Youth Enrichment Program.

“We are doing this in recognition of Historical Black Colleges and Universities and Tierra’s participation in the ASCEND Program. The sorority sisters met Tierra at the ADP send-off event and she made an impression on us,” explained Kathleen Grosvenor, who is the chapter’s Committee Chair.

“Thank you for doing this for my granddaughter. She’s had a tough road and she always was responsible even when the adults in her life weren’t,” shared Tierra’s grandmother. As a college freshman, Tierra is studying psychology. She also seems to have a knack for the arts, participating in local productions on the Lower East Side and at NYU. At the moment, she aspires to a career in media. “Tierra has accomplished a lot,” said Kendra Mulzac, who has been Tierra’s Case Planner for three years now. “She is strong-minded, creative and determined. She’s always wanted to go to college and that’s what she’s doing!”

Only 3-4 percent of kids in foster care graduate from college. HeartShare St. Vincent’s Services provides the resources, including the American Dream Program and other Youth Development Programs, to beat those odds. “Out of our 120 older youth in care, at least half are enrolled in school. We’re so proud,” said HSVS Executive Director Dawn Saffayeh.

To learn more, visit www.hsvsnyc.org.