Tianna West came to Savannah State University (SSU) in
2019 after graduating from Savannah’s Herschel V. Jenkins High School. Growing
up in a single-family home, she watched her mother struggle to provide the
basic needs. She was able to transition from high school to SSU with the
support of the Upper Bound program. Once on campus, she was greeted by Dr.
Carolyn Jordan, who welcomed her into the Honors Program.
“She has been my mentor and she introduced me to a lot
of scholarships,” said West. “We had meetings every week and I got a lot of
advice from her.”
West soon secured a Maximizing Access to Research
Careers (MARC) scholarship, which along with support from the Honors Program,
will allow her to graduate in December 2023 with no student loans to repay. A
chemistry major with a cumulative 3.198 GPA, West looks back on what kept her
motivated during her four years on campus.
“My mom graduated college when I was 14 or 15 and I watched
her persevere and get the benefits of having a college degree,” she said.
On campus she joined Alpha Kappa Sorority, Inc. She
also tutored elementary school children at the Circle of Life Academy in
Savannah. “The biggest thing I wanted to showcase to them is that you don’t
have to come from a family with money to be successful.”
In summer 2023, she completed an internship at the
University of Purdue School of Pharmacy. It is there where she will pursue a
graduate degree in pharmacy starting in fall 2024.
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