High School Graduate Donates Her $40,000 Scholarship to Another Student who Needed It More.

“I am so very grateful for this, but I also know that I am not the one who needs this the most,” Verda said. 

Her generous gesture prompted the audience, made up of her fellow classmates, their families and faculty members, to give her a thunderous standing ovation.  Her mother, Rosemary, loudly cheered her daughter on from the audience. 

Verda is planning on going to Harvard University in the fall as a pre-med student. The straight-A honor student has already been awarded a full scholarship for her Ivy League college education.  However, she could have used her school’s substantial scholarship to help pay for additional expenses such as books, computers and living expenses. 

Verda knew, though, just how important a college scholarship is to a student whose family is financially struggling.  Her mother earned her bachelor’s degree from a local community college at age 47, while raising her four children and holding down two jobs to support her family.  Her mother’s determination to get an education despite her financial hardship inspired the young woman’s selfless decision.  She wants the funds to go to a student pursuing a community college degree, just as her mother once had. 

That day, Rosemary gleamed with pride in her daughter.  “Now I’m 100% sure she is ready to go into the world on her own,” she said.

Verda has a deep admiration for her mother, who brought the family to the United States from their native Ghana when Verda was a child.  Her mother always stressed to her daughter the importance of having an education.   Verda was taught that education was the pathway to better opportunities. She never forgot the valuable life lesson. 

The young woman expressed no regrets over her decision to give away the money.

“I’m excited to see who it helps and how that changes their life, so I am so happy that God gave me the strength to do that,” Verda said.

Principal Jeremy Roche had high praise for his student. “Verda is someone who is going to change the world,” he proudly said. 

PassItOn and Foundation For A Better Life believe that Verda Tetteh is a hero for helping a fellow student realize their own educational aspirations.   Her selfless act epitomizes the value of generosity.  She has shown us all what character, leadership and service to others looks like.  Please help us honor Verda by sharing her inspiring story. 

Watch video here: https://youtu.be/M3Apd7uceBM

Sign Up to our PassItOn blog to be inspired:  http://www.passiton.com/passiton-blog

Please tell us about your everyday Hero. The Heroes among us are ordinary people whose actions leave a lasting and positive impact in their communities and demonstrate the potential in all of us. Their heroic acts uphold our shared values. Help honor these individuals by creating a billboard and sharing their story at:  https://www.passiton.com/your-billboards/create

SHARE this inspiring story with your friends and family to uplift their day.  

If you find these posts inspirational, consider favoriting Passiton on Facebook so you never miss out on our weekly posts.