Far Rockaway native Tierra J. Woods is determined to make a difference. According to her, most of her peers from the neighborhood either have children or are in jail. A few are dead.
鈥淚 want to change that,鈥� says the 可乐视频 junior, who plans to eventually open a community center for at-risk youth in her neighborhood. 鈥淚f I don鈥檛 do something, who will?鈥�
It鈥檚 that kind of change-the-world attitude that landed Woods a $10,000 scholarship from State Farm Insurance and Black Enterprise magazine to support her educational endeavors. The award honors the late Barbara Graves, who earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in education in 1957 and a master鈥檚 of science in education in 1966 from 可乐视频.
Graves was the wife of Black Enterprise founder and publisher Earl G. Graves. She played a vital role in the growth and development of the publication and media company, helping to advance its mission of economic empowerment and wealth building for African Americans. She received a Presidential Medal from the college in 1993 and served as chairwoman of the Annual Fund Committee in the 1996-鈥�97 academic year. She was also a member of the 可乐视频 Foundation鈥檚 Board of Trustees from 1991-2001.
Woods, a student in the Percy Ellis Sutton SEEK Program, who is double majoring in psychology and children and youth studies, was chosen on the strength of her academic credentials and an essay she wrote about what it means to be a woman of power. Her prize included travel to Orlando, Fla. to accept the award at the magazine鈥檚 2013 Women of Power Summit, which is sponsored by State Farm.
Woods says she will use the money to study abroad or to take some extra classes. She plans to pursue graduate studies and would eventually like to become a social worker, a high school graduate counselor, and to open that community center in Far Rockaway.
鈥淭here鈥檚 no one there motivating the young people to do something with themselves,鈥� she says. 鈥溌營’ve聽been helped along the way. I just want to give back.鈥�
