WSSU freshman on track to success with Golden LEAF scholarship
2022 Golden LEAF scholarship recipient Myanna Lassiter knew Winston-Salem State University was the right college for her when she visited the campus and researched the website.
“Seeing the campus gave me a feeling of being at home, and I knew I belonged here,” Lassiter said in an essay. “WSSU has always been my first choice for the college that I knew I wanted to attend.”
The Roseboro native was selected for the Golden LEAF Scholarship in June and began her college journey at WSSU in August. “When I found out that I had received the Golden LEAF Scholarship, I was in literal disbelief,” she said. “I am still in awe, but very grateful for this scholarship.”
The Golden LEAF Scholarship is open to high school seniors and community college transfer students who reside in qualifying rural, economically distressed, tobacco-dependent North Carolina counties and are planning to enroll full-time in a participating public or private college or university located in North Carolina.
Lassiter, who plans to major in nursing and minor in psychology, has big plans for her college journey. Evolving into the person she was destined to be is her most desired goal.
“I have always been passionate about my education and what I will make of myself,” said Lassiter. “Being able to go to a university that has the field I want to study and be someplace where I will feel at home gives me the determination to do what I must do to get there. I feel as though I embody the motto “Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve” because of my passion to learn and my willingness to become a registered nurse and help those in need.”
Nursing was not the only thing that attracted Lassiter to WSSU. She was also inspired by WSSU reputation as a social mobility innovator.
“The school is known for its social mobility and helping students who come from low-income families be able to receive the education that they deserve,” she said in an essay. “This caught my attention because I come from a low-income family and knowing that a university can help me despite my problems is appreciable.”
Lassiter is among 215 rural students from 78 counties in the state to receive the scholarship that’s worth up to $14,000.
“We are proud to award scholarships to hardworking and bright students with deep roots in their rural communities,” said Scott T. Hamilton, Golden LEAF Foundation President, and Chief Executive Officer. “These students were selected out of a pool of more than 1,600 applicants. We look forward to the future success of these scholarship recipients as they follow their educational pursuits and develop into North Carolina’s next generation of rural leaders.”
