MDC Annual Report - A Catalyst for Impact 2023 Annual Report
Rising Scholar Spotlight
2023-07-08 10:46:54
Terrill Smith
High school wasn’t easy for Terrill Smith. Between attending three different schools and having to stay home his senior year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, he wasn’t sure what to do when he graduated. It was an Instagram post from Miami Dade College’s Rising Scholars program that gave him the kick he needed to pursue higher education. He applied and was accepted. “It sparked my interest in school again,” Smith said. “It totally changed my perspective and gave me the motivation I needed.”
For him, the scholarship meant receiving financial aid, having someone to guide him through enrollment and tell him which classes to take, and most of all, a support system – something he desperately needed. “Just being able to call someone for advice is huge,” he said. Smith graduated on the Dean’s List in spring 2023 with an Associate in Arts. He also credits the program for encouraging him to get involved in extracurricular activities, including the Student Government Association, of which he served as the treasurer at the North Campus.
"It sparked my interest in school again. It totally changed my perspective and gave me the motivation I needed." -Terrill Smith
Smith is set to attend Florida A&M University’s School of Journalism and Graphic Communication and hopes to one day get a job in graphic arts. “I’m really happy with how everything turned out,” he said. “I feel like I’ve come a long way.”
Terrill Smith pictured with Miami Heat Player Udonis Haslem
900+ Students Admitted
Since the launch of the Rising Scholars and Presidential Scholars Programs
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