GateWay Community College student Nijah Morgan was excited when he found out he was awarded the Nina Mason Pulliam Scholarship, but what made him even happier was telling his mother.
“It was a very exciting moment,” Morgan recalls. “My mom was so happy she started screaming and crying. I know I was making her proud.”
The Nina Mason Pulliam Legacy Scholar program awards scholarships to Maricopa Community College and Arizona State University students who would not normally receive traditional academic scholarships.
The scholarship targets adults age 25 or older with dependents, young adults raised in the child welfare system, and college-age youths and adults with physical disabilities.
“I’ve had multiple surgeries, and I was in a wheelchair for awhile,” said Morgan. Morgan has hereditary multiple exostoses. It’s a rare genetic bone disease that can cause numerous problems including mobility issues, pain and fatigue. “It can be tough at times, but I am motivated to do something with my life.”
His symptoms have not stopped Morgan from achieving his goals during his first year at GateWay Community College.
“I’m the President of the M.E.N.’s club,” said Morgan. The Male Empowerment Network (M.E.N.) is a student organization on campus that provides support and professional development for male students of various backgrounds on campus.
“Nijah is a prime example of what our program seeks to accomplish,” said Ricky Silva, outreach coordinator as well as program coordinator for the M.E.N. program. “He took advantage of every opportunity we offered him and quickly became a leader, not only within our organization, but for the entire community.”
“Ricky told me about the scholarship,” said Morgan. “I wasn’t sure if I would get it, but I gave it a shot. I had nothing to lose and everything to gain.”
The Nina Mason Pulliam scholarship provides Morgan a scholarship for up to four years as well as a living stipend. Morgan is still undecided about his major, but he remains focused on becoming the first in his family to graduate college.