My name is Mahogany Johnson, and I am a graduate of the Academy at Palumbo. Academically, I have managed to keep honors since kindergarten and have thankfully carried that same stamina in my high school years. Being able to juggle multiple honors and AP classes, I graduated with a GPA of 3.9. Though great achievements, the main drive behind this work is my passion for being in healthcare.
My desire to work in healthcare became a big passion for me because of my experiences as a patient in my youth, how I still see myself referred to as one in my present, and what it affects in my life. I used to go to the hospital a lot when I was younger, but what stuck with me most was the holes in my heart. When the doctors saw them, it was said to make me more prone to getting sick than my counterparts. It was also said that a good majority of them were supposed to close up, but not many of them did later on, so I still can get sick just as quickly, and I faced some breathing issues when I do strenuous activities. Instead of letting this hinder me, I make sure to try different breathing tactics that will help when I have moments of shortened breath. In addition, I also make sure to try and keep clean and not put my hands near my face to decrease any chances of me getting sick.
Because of this, I sympathize with people whose condition, no matter what it is, makes them be seen as patients and fragile in and outside of hospitals. Dealing with my condition and the struggles it brings is how I got into Respiratory therapy. Being surrounded by many family members who are suffering because of poor health decisions and ignoring any precautions has made me see the change I want to bring to my community. I want to see fewer people using bad habits to cope and developing worse health conditions, or ignoring their health because they think they don’t need medical attention at the moment. Instead, I want to bring awareness to the fact that minority stats are way higher in deaths when it comes to certain health issues and teach them how to break out of this cycle for themselves and future generations.
I have developed this mindset through my Social Science Honors class and a program I joined called Philly Bolt. Both of these events in my senior year have taught me to speak out and help when I see a community in need or struggling. Having this sort of support to find my voice and bring change wherever I go has encouraged me to speak in front of council members about the underfunding of public transit and why it is important to people with or without a car. Though this was a first for me, I had an ample amount of support that showed me my voice is important and can help make a change.
This is hopefully the same support I am looking for when I find myself applying for scholarships. There is always the chance of this scholarship being the one that pours into a student who is looking to continue making a change and excelling within her field. I would like this scholarship, not just because of my need for it financially, but mentally, this would encourage me to continue pursuing a future of better change without any financial strain on me and my family.
My name is Makayla Allende, and I am a first-generation Hispanic college student from Philadelphia pursuing a career in nursing. My goal is to work in underserved communities where care is needed most. I come from a family that has been deeply affected by health challenges, but even more so by healthcare inequalities. Those experiences shaped my worldview and inspired me to become a medical professional who not only treats illness, but also advocates for better access, respect, and equity in care.
Growing up, I spent a lot of time in hospitals with my sisters. One has Down syndrome and faced ongoing medical complications. My other sister battled leukemia and sadly passed away in 2009. These moments were some of the hardest of my life, but they also introduced me to the power of compassionate, skilled nurses. I remember the way they comforted our family when we were scared, how they explained things clearly, and how they made us feel cared for even in the worst moments. That is when I knew I wanted to be one of them.
At the same time, I witnessed the harsh realities of our healthcare system. As a Hispanic family navigating serious illnesses, we were often overlooked or treated differently. Access to specialists was limited. Appointments were delayed. There were times when assumptions were made about us based on how we looked or where we lived. The difference in care between neighborhoods just a few miles apart was impossible to ignore. It made me realize that health outcomes are not always based on effort or need, but on race, income, and location.
This is why I am passionate about becoming a nurse who serves underserved communities. I want to be someone who provides excellent care in places where people have grown used to being ignored. I want to work with children and families who remind me of my own and help them feel supported, informed, and respected. I believe that good healthcare should not be a privilege. It should be a right, regardless of background or zip code.
Throughout high school and college, I have volunteered in community programs, food drives, and local clinics. These experiences showed me the challenges people face every day just trying to access basic health resources. They also taught me that change starts with people who care deeply enough to show up, even when it is difficult. That is the kind of nurse I want to be.
I also hope to mentor other Hispanic and underrepresented students pursuing medical careers. Representation matters. I know what it feels like to not see yourself reflected in your doctors or nurses, and I want to help change that.
I am committed to using my education and life experience to make a real difference in healthcare. Through compassion, advocacy, and service, I hope to carry on the legacy of Dr. Alan V. Lee and serve the communities that need it most.
I grew up thinking my mom had powers. Somehow, despite working a full-time job and a part-time one, she made sure the lights stayed on, the fridge was full, and I never felt the weight of what she carried. But as I got older, I started noticing the cracks. That’s when I realized she wasn’t magic. She was just doing what Black women have done for generations, surviving for everyone but themselves.
That truth changed me. It lit a fire in me to not only succeed, but to build a life where I’m not just surviving, I’m thriving. That’s what pushes me every day as a biology major and psychology minor at Widener. I juggle being a student-athlete on the track & field team, a member of the Honors Program, and an active community volunteer, because I know what’s at stake. I know what it costs to sacrifice everything for a future you may never see, but I also know I have the power to change the pattern.
One moment that stands out is when I got a 99 on my first college biology exam. I remember walking out of that classroom with tears in my eyes, not because of the grade, but because I felt like I was finally stepping into the version of myself my mom had worked so hard for. I felt like I’m building something real. I'm working toward becoming a Physician because I love science and I want to be there for people during their most vulnerable moments. I know what it feels like to not be heard, to not have options, to navigate systems that weren’t made for you. I want to be a provider who listens, who advocates, who makes space for healing, not just medically, but emotionally.
Research is also one of my passions. This summer I’m working in Widener’s SURCA program with my biology lab professor, trying to make real change. It's exciting to explore STEM in a way that makes me feel like I belong there. I used to think people like me didn’t do this kind of work. Now I know we can, and we should. Everything I do, on the track, in the lab, in my community, is driven by my dream to break cycles. To give my future family a life filled with more laughter than sacrifice. To make my mom proud. To be proud of myself. This isn’t just about school. It’s about becoming the woman I was meant to be.
Receiving this scholarship would bring me one step closer to that woman. It would ease the financial burden that has followed me throughout my education and give me the freedom to focus fully on my studies, research, and service. With this support, I can continue striving, not just to achieve for myself, but to uplift others like me. It would allow me to take hold of opportunities without hesitation, to stay in the spaces I’ve fought to enter, and to keep honoring the sacrifices that brought me here.
