It wasn’t long ago that I found myself as an undergraduate at Arizona State University studying hard and taking advantage of an opportunity no other member of my family ever had. I would not be where I am today if it weren’t for my college education and the supportive ASU community. Unfortunately college is anything but cheap and as such, millions of Americans continue to struggle to afford a college education. While the Obama administration has strengthened programs like Income Based Repayment and increased funding for Pell Grants in order to help make college more affordable, there are creative young women that are also finding ways to send students to school and give back to the community.
This week’s “Women Working to Do Good” highlights Shayla Price, known by many as the “Scholarship Queen” after she helped more than 5,000 students apply for college scholarships. Not only that, her passion for service extended from education to poverty and in her free time, Shayla advocates to end hunger in the United States. The author writes,
The worldview that “in order to receive, you must give” seems to be the guiding principle behind Shayla’s work. Shayla’s lifelong dedication to giving to others through volunteer work set the stage for receiving thousands of dollars in scholarship money. What makes Shayla incredible is that she didn’t stop there—in college and beyond, she continues to work to improve the lives of others through supporting volunteerism and advocacy.
Shayla’s enthusiasm for ensuring every American has the resources to attend college and put food on the table is inspiring. Her passion for feeding American bodies and minds simultaneously earns her a spot as a real woman working to do good.
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Ronnie Cho is an Associate Director in the White House Office of Public Engagement.