2023 Alumni Endowed Scholarship Recipients

Thank You Alumni and Donors!

Amber Hickey

Human Biology

College of Natural Science

Honors College

Detroit, MI

Dear Charles Drew Alumni and Donors,

I am writing to express my gratitude for your generosity in funding the Charles Drew Alumni Endowed Scholarship. Receiving this scholarship means a great deal to me, as it will help me pursue my academic goals without worrying about financial constraints. I am inspired by your generosity and kindness, and I promise to continue to work hard and make the most out of this opportunity. I am honored to be a recipient of this scholarship and will always be grateful for the support of my Drew community. Upon receiving this scholarship, I will be one step closer to pursuing my career goals of being a physician, and I hope to give back to Drew just as you have.

Being a Charles Drew Science Scholar is by far one of the best opportunities and communities that Michigan State University has given me. I have been asked on multiple occasions about an opportunity or experience that has really shaped and benefited my time here at MSU and the answer is always Drew. Being a Drew Scholar means more to me than words can really express. While being a Drew Scholar, I have grown individually, academically, and professionally, while making connections and friends with other scholars who have similar aspirations and goals.

I am a graduating senior with a major in Human Biology and a minor in Health Promotion along with being a member of the Honors College. After my undergraduate career, I plan to apply to the medical school of my choice to pursue a career as a physician. I cannot thank the Drew Alumni and Donors enough for pouring back into this community, your kindness and generosity, and making a difference in my life.

Sincerely,

Amber Hickey

Faheed Shafau

Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics

College of Natural Science

Honors College

Sterling Height, MI

Dear Charles Drew Science Scholars Alumni and Donors, 

I am writing to express my gratitude for the scholarship that you have awarded me. Receiving this scholarship has allowed me to focus on my studies without the added stress of financial burden. I am truly honored and grateful for this award, which has motivated me to work even harder toward achieving my goals. 

I want to share my academic plans, activities, and career goals with you. I am currently studying Biomedical Laboratory Science (BLS) at Michigan State University, hoping to enter the affiliated MD program. I chose Michigan State because of its outstanding programs and resources in Biomedical Laboratory Science, and the Drew community has been instrumental in my journey toward achieving my academic goals. As a Drew Scholar, I have been part of a diverse, supportive community of students working toward academic excellence.  

Aside from my studies, I serve as a Resident Assistant and Peer Mentor at Michigan State. In these roles, I strive to provide a safe and supportive environment for my residents and mentees. I am committed to helping others and providing them with the necessary resources and support to succeed. 

My long-term goal is to become a Physician, and I have had the opportunity to shadow and scribe for physicians. It has validated the work I continue to put forward to my education. 

In conclusion, I would like to thank the Charles Drew Science Scholars alumni and donors for making this scholarship possible. Your generosity has had a profound impact on my life and has enabled me to pursue my dreams. I want to positively impact others as a physician and give back to the community in any way I can. Please accept my sincerest thanks.

Best regards, 

Faheed Shafau

Oluwabusola Ajagbe

Neuroscience

College of Natural Science

Honors College

Lagos, Nigeria

Good Day Charles Drew Science Scholars Alumni and Donors,

My name is Oluwabusola Ajagbe, and I am currently a sophomore pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience with a minor in Chinese. I wanted to use this opportunity to thank you all and the Charles Drew Science Scholars program for choosing me as the recipient of the scholarship.

I really appreciate it and through this scholarship, I hope to help my parents reduce the cost of my school bills. So as to not disappoint you, the Drew program, my parents, and myself, I will endeavor to work harder and to continue to be at the top of my academics, to continue to be involved on campus in my role as an Intercultural Aide (ICA), Drew scholar, and Dean’s Research Scholar, and to continue to share the love of sciences while giving back to the Drew community, in terms of mentoring students.

As the fall semester approaches, I am looking forward to meeting more people on campus by attending more campus organized events, and through my roles as ICA and Dean’s research scholar. I am looking forward to starting my neuroscience courses as well as taking physiology. I am also looking forward to learning new things and experiences both in class and in my new roles on the MSU campus.

Overall, I plan on graduating MSU with a bachelors in science. My overall goal is to work as a medical doctor that not only looks for the best and most effective way to treat a patient but also works on discovering cures to illnesses such as breast cancer. I am grateful once again to have been selected as the recipient for this scholarship because with the help of this scholarship, I would be able to afford to continue my undergraduate education which will move me forward into the next step in my goal to becoming a physician scientest.

Thank you once again.

Sincerely,

Oluwabusola Ajagbe

Sikyaah Conley

Human Biology

College of Natural Science

Eastpointe, MI

Dear Charles Drew Science Scholars Alumni and Donors,

It is with great gratitude and appreciation that I humbly accept the Charles Drew Scholars Alumni Endowed Scholarship. I am a rising senior pursuing an undergraduate degree in human biology with a minor in health promotion. After graduation, I plan on taking a gap-year to further explore clinical experiences prior to matriculating to an accredited Physician Assistant program.

The Drew Scholars program has had a monumental Impact on my academic development as a student at MSU. I've learned through NSC courses how to become a young professional, how to network, and the importance of education. Initially I was not confident that I would make it to see graduation. Though I knew that I was intelligent and that I had the capacity to learn at a college level, I lacked the guidance necessary to succeed. I am a first-generation college student, unlike many others in my Drew cohort, so I would get very discouraged when I compared myself with others who were participating in research and internships freshman year while I was just learning how to navigate D2L. It was very discouraging to hear how these students who shared post-bac plans with me talk about their parents who are Physicians or Public Health Administrators, while I had no one to turn to when I felt confused or overwhelmed. The faculty In the Drew program helped with these overbearing feelings; they provided a sense of academic security and support that I was searching for. Most importantly, the Drew program provided a sense of community here at MSU that I didn't have. Simply put, I am forever grateful that I will forever be a Drew Scholar!

​​As a student who does not have the privilege to just ‘focus on school’ due to financial bearings, I would like to highlight the monumental impact this scholarship has on my preparation for a graduate program. Thank you for your generosity and continued support for the students in the Charles Drew Science Scholars program. Furthermore, thank you for supporting me towards reaching my full personal and professional potential.

Sincerely,

Sikyaah Conley