The night before Del’Sha Roberts received a call from 20/20
Leadership about the Kansas City Royals Scholarship, she had been researching
scholarship applications. She applied for
the scholarship as a senior at F.L. Schlagle and when her name was not called
during the 2015 Shining Stars program, she thought the opportunity passed. While
she had received other scholarship awards as she entered Kansas State
University as a freshman in the fall of 2015, Del’Sha found herself in need of
more money to continue her education. “If it wasn’t for this scholarship, I
would not be able to continue at Kansas State,” she said.
Leadership about the Kansas City Royals Scholarship, she had been researching
scholarship applications. She applied for
the scholarship as a senior at F.L. Schlagle and when her name was not called
during the 2015 Shining Stars program, she thought the opportunity passed. While
she had received other scholarship awards as she entered Kansas State
University as a freshman in the fall of 2015, Del’Sha found herself in need of
more money to continue her education. “If it wasn’t for this scholarship, I
would not be able to continue at Kansas State,” she said.
Education is something that was stressed in Del’Sha’s
household as she grew up. She has three
older sisters, as well as one younger brother. While one of her sisters started
college, she did not have the opportunity to finish. As a first generation college student, she
understands that education is not optional.
The future doctor understands the time she will have to continue to
invest in her education to pursue her dream.
household as she grew up. She has three
older sisters, as well as one younger brother. While one of her sisters started
college, she did not have the opportunity to finish. As a first generation college student, she
understands that education is not optional.
The future doctor understands the time she will have to continue to
invest in her education to pursue her dream.
Del’Sha originally wanted to be a veterinarian, but is
studying biology and pre-med with the goal of becoming a surgeon. She has known that she wanted to be a doctor
since the age of eight and the feeling intensified after a close friend passed
away during her high school career.
studying biology and pre-med with the goal of becoming a surgeon. She has known that she wanted to be a doctor
since the age of eight and the feeling intensified after a close friend passed
away during her high school career.
Her sights were initially set on attending Spelman College,
a historically Black college in Atlanta, but after visiting Kansas State on a
20/20 Leadership program day, plus being offered a scholarship, Del’Sha’s plans
shifted. As she nears the end of her
third semester at the university, Del’Sha has become active and involved in
student life. She joined the Black
Student Union and was able to practice the skill of networking, something she
learned as a participant in 20/20 Leadership.
a historically Black college in Atlanta, but after visiting Kansas State on a
20/20 Leadership program day, plus being offered a scholarship, Del’Sha’s plans
shifted. As she nears the end of her
third semester at the university, Del’Sha has become active and involved in
student life. She joined the Black
Student Union and was able to practice the skill of networking, something she
learned as a participant in 20/20 Leadership.
In reflection, Del’Sha says she thought college would be
hard, but by taking college courses as a high school student, she believes that
she was better prepared. She took a
placement test as a sophomore and because of her high scores in math and
reading, Del’Sha was able to earn 25 credits that would transfer upon
graduation. She also learned how to read
a syllabus. More importantly, she
already understood the importance of sitting in the front of the room, another
lesson impressed upon her by 20/20 Leadership.
hard, but by taking college courses as a high school student, she believes that
she was better prepared. She took a
placement test as a sophomore and because of her high scores in math and
reading, Del’Sha was able to earn 25 credits that would transfer upon
graduation. She also learned how to read
a syllabus. More importantly, she
already understood the importance of sitting in the front of the room, another
lesson impressed upon her by 20/20 Leadership.
“Hard work and dedication has paid off and now I’m able to
be at the school that I would like to be at,” she said.
be at the school that I would like to be at,” she said.
The KC Royals scholarship is made possible by a generous donation from the Kansas City Royals and Royals Charities. Participants in 20/20 Leadership are eligible to apply for the scholarship.