Amber Peden   2007 Lyn Silfern Scholar
As a 2007-2008 recipient of the Michael J. Berkeley Foundation Scholarship, I would like to offer my sincere thanks to the foundation for its support and encouragement this past academic school year. My first year at Kalamazoo College marked a huge transformation in my life. I can say that I have grown so much as an individual - academically, mentally and spiritually. I have learned that determination, hard work, and open-mindedness are essentials for success in college, especially when you are a minority. Born and raised in Detroit, I have proven to myself and others that you do not have to be a product of your society. This academic year, I excelled in all of my classes while pursuing my love for golf by joining the Kalamazoo College Women's golf team. This summer, I am doing research in the chemistry department at "K" College working alongside two other students who also share my passion for science. This upcoming school year, I plan to declare Chemistry as my major with the ultimate goal of attending medical school. Also, my interest in African healthcare systems will allow me to travel to Kenya in August of 2009 for study abroad. This year, I am looking forward to taking all of my premedical classes and beginning research for my senior thesis in Nairobi, Kenya. I thank God for organizations like the Michael J. Berkeley Foundation who encourage individuals from underprivileged communities to pursue their dreams. The Michael J. Berkeley Foundation is helping students overcome financial disadvantages while also, encouraging them to overcome racial and educational barriers.

 

A'Ja Robbins 2007
This past school year has been a learning experience. Being 20-21 years old in a professional school full of 35+ yr old adults gave me a very quick lesson on being a professional. The school work was challenging, but not nearly as challenging as enduring the fatigue of school and family. The Michael J Berkeley scholarship helped me significantly by paying for all of the extra expenditures from books, parking passes, association fees, and travel. Without this scholarship I would not have been able to accomplish such tasks as traveling to the 2008 National Convention for the largest pharmacy organization APha in San Diego, California. I got the chance to interact with some of the most influential people in my field while broadening my prospective of where a degree in pharmacy can take me in the future. Golf also played a major role in my well-being this past school year. The 2007-2008 school year was the first fiscal year in which I did not play competitive golf. This was very difficult for me to give up, since I have been competing in golf since the age of 9. I did however; use the game of golf as an escape. When I needed to get away from the pressures of school, and the pain of missing my family, I turned to golf to bring me joy. Being out on the course brought peace and serenity into my hectic, day to day, world.  Golf also gave me the chance to get to know one of my professors better. Now my professor and I go and play golf regularly and it is nice to a have a teacher/friend. I am truly grateful for the Michael J Berkeley Scholarship Association and pray that it continues to grow and touch the lives of many minority golfers around the world.

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Monica Solomon   2007

This letter is a token of my sincere gratitude towards the Micheal J. Berkeley Foundation. Your generous gift towards my collegiate studies is greatly appreciated, as it has helped me in fulfilling my lifelong goal of attending college. The scholarship relieved much financial angst which led to my very productive academic year. I am now entering my third year at the University of Florida as a Health Education & Behavior major and I wholeheartedly know that your gift has impacted my academic career in a positive way. It is with great pleasure that I update your foundation in the hopes of highlighting some of my recent accomplishments.  During the past year I became very active on campus. I joined several organizations all while maintaining a 3.5 GPA and being recognized on the Dean’s list.  Furthermore, I helped to co-found a non-profit organization entitled Caribbean Gator Aid in order to assist impoverished children and families in the islands by providing them with much needed educational support. Since the organization’s inception, we have collected over $400 in clothes and school supplies and our future efforts look as promising. Also, I was selected as a Student Ambassador for the University of Florida with such responsibilities as giving campus tours and assisting with Presidential functions. Recently, due to my continued organizational involvement, I was inducted to one of UF’s most prestigious leadership honoraries. Finally, this summer I embarked on independent research as a McNair Scholar through their undergraduate research program. I desire to assess the psychosocial effects of an exercise program on people with Intellectual Disabilities in the hopes of raising awareness about the benefits of the Special Olympics. Performing research is quite beneficial because it will make me more competitive for graduate school. Once again, I would like to thank the foundation and it’s affiliates for their continued support of my academic endeavors. I humbly thank the organization for the selfless promotion of higher education.

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Jared Williams  2005 / 2006 / 2007 / 2008
The Michael J. Berkeley Scholarship has assisted my family greatly this past year. I had another successful year academically and on the links; yet this year proved to be even more enlightening. This past year, the foundation seemed to help me in choosing my most desirable career path. In last year’s telephonic interview, Lourdes Berkeley asked me a few questions about my career aspirations. She made it very clear about the importance of completing internships as a means for helping one figure out his or her ultimate career path. Initially, I had the finance-based goal of working in the legal world. However, two summer internships later I have realized that working in the golf industry and being around the game of golf is what I love to do. My recent internship with the American Junior Golf Association should open several doors for me being a minority in the golf industry. I hope to be able to become a sponsor and remain active in the foundation as a former scholar and successful minority involved with the game of golf.