DSU senior establishes scholarship to honor grandmother’s legacy of service

For Delaware State University senior Raven Reed, giving back is not just a value. It is a promise rooted in family and service.

As Miss Senior for the academic year, Reed recently established and personally funded a $1,000 scholarship in honor of her late grandmother, a longtime daycare teacher who dedicated her life to nurturing and uplifting young people. The inaugural scholarship was awarded to freshman Jada Leger, marking the beginning of what Reed hopes will become a lasting tradition of support for DSU students.

“My grandmother always emphasized the importance of giving back, especially to the younger generation,” Reed said. “She believed in showing up for people, even in small ways. Creating this scholarship was my way of continuing her legacy and supporting students right here in my own community.”

For Leger, the scholarship arrived at a meaningful moment early in her college journey.

“This scholarship means so much to me as a freshman because it reassures me that I’m on the right path and supported as I start my journey at Delaware State University,” Leger said.

Reed personally funded and presented the scholarship herself, an act she says reflects the idea that meaningful impact does not require a formal title or large organization. For her, the experience highlights how students can make a difference through intention, sacrifice, and compassion.

Throughout her time at DSU, Reed has been deeply involved in campus organizations, leadership opportunities, and pageants, experiences that helped shape her growth while also presenting financial challenges of their own. Those challenges played a role in inspiring the scholarship, which is designed to support freshmen who show pride in student involvement and a strong commitment to contributing positively to campus life.

“Being involved on campus changed my life,” Reed said. “I know how important that sense of belonging is, especially during your first year. I wanted to help someone continue that journey without feeling discouraged by financial barriers.”

Reed says the scholarship is only the beginning. She plans to continue awarding it in future years and hopes sharing her story will encourage others to consider how they can give back, no matter where they are in their own journeys.

“This is bigger than me,” she said. “If this inspires even one person to support someone else, then it’s already done what my grandmother would have wanted.”