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Four years ago, we sent six high school seniors off to college with the help of $100,000 in scholarships. The four-year, renewable scholarships are through the Roger Williams Initiative which was conceived of and funded by philanthropists Letitia and the late John Carter.

We asked them to reflect on their college experiences and the impact the Carter Roger Williams Scholarship has had on them and their educations. What follows is in their own words.

Kelsey Dellinger

Kelsey is a graduate of North Kingstown High School and will graduate in December from Rhode Island College with a degree in nursing.

Q: How important was this scholarship and what has it enabled you to do?

A: This scholarship was so extremely important to me. For as long as I can remember, my parents always pushed me to work hard both in school and at my part time jobs to hopefully pave my way to a college degree. Finances were always a major talking point when my higher education plans were discussed since our family was in no position to be able to pay the enormous tuition costs at some universities. By receiving this scholarship, a huge burden was lifted off of our shoulders, allowing me to fully invest in my future and apply myself to my academics without having to worry about the debt that could follow me for the rest of my life. It has enabled me to find myself and find my future career as a registered nurse.

Q: What are your plans after graduating?

A: After I graduate, my plans are to hopefully be hired into an ICU position. Critical care has always been a passion of mine, especially during this pandemic where ICU beds were a major source of concern. Being able to think critically and holistically about such an acutely ill patient is something I strive to be able to do and would love to follow my passion right out of the gate.

Fatou Dieng

Fatou is a graduate of Woonsocket High School and Smith College where she earned a degree in neuroscience.

Q: How important was this scholarship and what has it enabled you to do?

A: Being low-income, this scholarship was very significant to my undergraduate career. It has created an opportunity for me to complete an undergraduate degree without the additional stress of loans. This is extremely important to me as I have plans to obtain a medical degree...I am beyond grateful that this scholarship helped me obtain a BA in neuroscience debt-free.

Q: The scholarship was intended for students to “think big” about their future, and focus on the important/empowering role of education. What does this mean to you?

Thinking about my future means prioritizing my education and staying motivated in order for me to become a physician one day. Education is a powerful tool and is strongly emphasized in my family. The empowering role of education is an ideology that I hope to pass down to my children one day and to members of my community.

Taleen Donoyan

Taleen is a graduate of Cranston High School West and the University of Rhode Island where she earned a degree in nursing.

Q: How important was this scholarship and what has it enabled you to do?

A: The Carter Roger Williams Scholarship has completely changed my college experience and my ability to do my best academically and focus on my studies, without having to angst over the financial burden of a large portion of college tuition. The scholarship has allowed me to pursue my dreams and create new goals of higher education in nursing, such as master's and doctorate degrees, and allowed me to gain experience in the workforce through internships vital to my nursing education that I may not have had the opportunity to complete if I was focused on financial aspects of my education.

Q: If first generation, how important is it for you and your family being a first-generation graduate.

A: As a first generation Armenian-American and first generation college graduate, my family has been hugely supportive throughout my college education and has always encouraged me to excel in both my education and clinical aspects. While they may not have had the means and privilege to attend higher education institutions and graduate university, they have always placed a great importance on education and always improving on themselves, constantly learning. The scholarship has also given them peace of mind in that they were able to send not only myself to the University of Rhode Island, but my older brother as well.

Diana Iglesias

Diana is a graduate of Central High School and Providence College where she earned a degree in finance and management.

Q: How important was this scholarship and what has it enabled you to do?

A: This scholarship was significantly important to me, as it helped me transition from high school to college. I was able to grow mentally, physically, and academically. This scholarship gave me the ability to reside on campus to be more involved in extracurriculars and also connect easier with students and faculty. I was able to grow my connections on campus and expand my resources. This scholarship also gave me the opportunity to study abroad, something that I had not believed was possible due to financial reasons. However, Providence College’s Financial Office was able to use the Carter Roger William’s scholarship to cover my abroad program’s fee in Barcelona, Spain. This is an experience I will never forget, and despite my trip being cut short in the 2020 spring semester, I was still able to explore Spain while also obtaining an internship abroad. I am forever grateful for the abundance of opportunities this scholarship was able to provide for me.

Q: What would you say to yourself four years ago as you were graduating high school?

What I would say to myself four years ago as I was graduating high school was to disregard any negative comments about yourself as a person. You will do great no matter what school you go to, whether it's a community college, or a four-year university. The only thing that matters is the work you put into your studies and the outcome that will come from it. Do not think that you are not good enough, because you are. You were given this opportunity for a reason, and the college saw something in you. Go give it your all and go break those stereotypes. Go make your family proud. They sacrificed so much for you, it's time you do the same for them. This is your time to shine, and your time to show why you deserve to be at Providence College, like everyone else.

Ngan “Kim” Le

Kim is a graduate of Mount St. Charles Academy and Columbia University, the latter where she earned a degree in finance.

Q: How important was this scholarship and what has it enabled you to do?

The Rhode Island Foundation's generous scholarship was extremely important to my college education. It removed practically every financial barrier I had and actually enabled me to choose the school that I wanted most. Thanks to the yearly grants, I was able to attend my first choice university and receive a memorable education.

Q: How, if at all, different do you think your college experience and current plans would be if you did not receive the award?

Very different. If it weren't for the award, I honestly think I would've been at a different university. Or if I had decided on attending Columbia anyway, my living and working experience in NYC would definitely be fraught with more anxiety over work-life balance. I would've had to dedicate more time and energy toward an income generating part-time job and less time on academic and personal affairs. I'm sure my college experience would've been more stressful and less fulfilling with the added financial burden.

Night Jean Muhingabo

Night Jean is a graduate of Central High School and is working toward completing his degree in public administration at Rhode Island College.

Q: How important was this scholarship and what has it enabled you to do?

The Roger Williams scholarship meant a lot to me. As a result of 1994 Rwandan genocide, my family fled to Congo and found safety in a refugee camp called Kintele for 15 years. In 2015, my family was given status to come to the United States as refugees when the government threatened to kill refugees in the camp. When we came to the US, I was faced with a number of challenges, such as the difficulty in finding a home, adjusting to American culture, learning English as a fifth language, succeeding in school…One day in the college resources room at Central High, I learned about the (Carter) Roger Williams scholarship that was open so I applied right away...It allowed me to think bigger and (gave me) the confidence and support I need to pursue higher education.

Q: What would you like to share with the Carter family?

I want to say thank you so much for everything. I am grateful and thankful. As a refugee, I never thought that this would be even possible. Thank you for believing in me. I remember when I was stressed out about how to pay for college; I wanted to get a job after high school and stop my education. After I received the scholarship, I got hope and a future for myself.