A Penn State World Campus student received a Penn State scholarship for her service to the African American community.
Tamara Aharon, a Bachelor of Science in Psychology student, is one of the recipients of the 2023 Fannie Lou Hamer – W.E.B. DuBois Service Scholarship.
The scholarship is awarded each year to full-time, degree-seeking Penn State students who are excellent scholars and actively engaged in service to the African American community. The scholarship honors the memory of Hamer, a civil rights and voting rights activist in the 1960s, and DuBois, an author and sociologist who was one of the founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1909.
“This scholarship embodied what I think life should be as a whole, which includes always doing the right thing, fighting injustices, and working together to effectively create change,” Aharon said. “Not only did it feel amazing to get this scholarship because it legitimized all of the work I’ve been doing until now, but it helps advance my education here at Penn State.”
Aharon said she chose Penn State World Campus to pursue her education because it was the best way to study while working — making earning her bachelor’s a reality.
“I always knew I loved learning but had difficulties in a classroom, and Penn State helped facilitate my success as a 3.97 GPA student and all the meanwhile allowing me to advance my career,” she said.
After graduation this summer, she plans to pursue law school.
“I am extremely passionate about social justice and human rights,” Aharon said. “I’ve been an advocate and activist for many years and decided it was time to learn about the human mind in order to advocate for others in the best way possible when working in court.”
Other students who received the scholarship are Sean Hembrick, a doctoral student in higher education in the College of Education, and Raya Petty, a doctoral student in higher education and education policy studies in the College of Education and president of the Black Graduate Student Association at Penn State.
Scholarships available through Penn State World Campus
In addition to securing scholarships from private organizations, undergraduate students can apply for scholarships offered through Penn State World Campus. Online learners who complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and apply can be considered for all scholarships for which they are eligible.
Penn State World Campus offers more than 40 scholarships, which are awarded to hundreds of undergraduate students each year. Students who reside in Pennsylvania and out-of-state students receive equal consideration in the scholarship process.
For more information about available scholarships, visit the Scholarships page for current students.