Harvard-bound student asks high school to give her scholarship away

[In It to Win It]

CBS News via Yahoo News

Verda Tetteh earned a standing ovation as the class speaker at her Massachusetts high school graduation. But what she did next had the crowd in awe.

The Fitchburg High School student, who will be attending Harvard College in the fall on a full scholarship, won an additional $40,000 scholarship from her high school at last week's graduation ceremony. She could have used the scholarship for expenses, but instead, the 17-year-old gave it away shortly after it was awarded.

"I am so very grateful for this but I also know that I am not the one who needs this the most," she told graduation attendees.

[MissB]

1. That's awesome.

Helluva a great gesture!

[4Q2u2]

2. Good for Her

This happens all too often. The top 3 or 4 get all the scholarships and others are left with nothing.
Or if you are like my town. The School's Superintendent's children won all the scholarships. Nobody noticed though[sarc].
Some scholarship's still think it is 1955. Giving out 125 and 250 dollars. Wow you can buy one book.

[Bayard]

3. Still better than mine

I received an, "honorary scholarship".

[nwliberalkiwi]

4. Same Here

Town elites got the money, the rest a big FUCK YOU!!!

[Bettie]

8. In both of my older kids' senior classes

multiple kids who had full rides (and rich parents) got the big scholarships.

But, I was still grateful for the couple hundred bucks my kids got.

This girl was raised well.

[4Q2u2]

9. Daughter's year Valedictorian

Two Harvard Grad Lawyer Parents. She is going to Harvard and got 75% of the Scholarships that year.
Everybody also knew she cheated all the time, and nobody cared. My son in 8th grade even knew it.
Saddening that it is more prevalent than I thought.

[Bettie]

10. Small town here

kids with certain last names will get 90% of scholarships.

Heck, my kids have never been to another school system but they are "new people". If your great-grandparents didn't live here, you are an outsider. First place we've ever lived where we found it impossible to make friends. I have friends I am still in regular contact with from everywhere I've ever lived, but have not made a single friend in this town in 19 years living here.

[NNadir]

11. My youngest son got around 50 grand (assistance) from the school he attended. He still...

...needed to take some loans, for room and board and books, because that's how expensive the place is.

He loved that University when we went for the tour, but I was muttering to myself, "No way!" I looked at the cost of tuition and I said there was no way I could afford that place. They made it possible for him to go there, and they did a great job with him.

I told him if he has a successful career, he needs to remember all that, and "pay it forward," with that school, fund scholarships and more.

This young woman, the child of immigrants, is likely to go far. I love it that she's majoring in Chemistry, and I do hope that she will not be dissuaded of getting through it in spite of implied and active racism and sexism, which is certainly not unknown at Harvard.

A Black Physicist Is Borne Back Ceaselessly Into the Past

I want to live in a world where I can be a physicist without also being asked to speak on or compensate for the persistent racism of institutions.

Her story, told in the link, about the breadboard, blew my mind.

Hopefully this outstanding young woman will not hear, "You shouldn't be here," as Professor Prescod-Weinstein did when she was at Harvard.

[KS Toronado]

5. Her parents can be proud of the values they taught her.

Great parents.

[AllaN01Bear]

6. eggscllent.

[FakeNoose]

7. Verda's mother's story is amazing too

According to the CBS news video, Verda Tetteh's mother was born in Ghana and emigrated to the US as a young woman. After marrying and having children she went to community college and earned a degree just a few years ago at age 47. It's an inspiring story for immigrants who come here with not much, and work hard to get ahead.

Best of luck to Verda and her mom!