For Immediate Release: April 9, 2020
Contact: Carli Kientzle at [email protected]
Stephany of Delaware State University is TheDream.US’ “DREAMer of the Week”
Washington, DC – TheDream.US, the nation’s largest college access and success program for undocumented immigrant youth, is continuing its “DREAMer of the Week” feature – a weekly profile of a TheDream.US Scholar whose story offers a powerful example of the incalculable contributions of DREAMers to America.
This week’s DREAMer is Stephany, a Scholar of Delaware State University:
My family and I came to the United States from Honduras, when I was just six years old. After I began school in the first grade, I quickly developed a love of English. Throughout school, I joined Student Government and was a member of the National Honor Society, the National Technical Honor Society and Ground Zero. It was always my dream to be able to go to college. It was what I put all my hard work into, regardless of my immigration status. For months my junior and senior years, I struggled with what to say, while my classmates talked about which college they planned to attend. I knew what I wanted to say: the University of South Carolina. Unfortunately, I also knew my status would prevent me from chasing my dream in the very state I called home.
Thanks to TheDream.US Opportunity Scholarship, I am now a Pre-Nursing major studying in Delaware. I am extremely proud to say that I am maintaining a 4.0 and will soon apply for their nursing program to continue pursuing my dreams.
By graduation, I hope that the laws have changed in South Carolina. Currently, despite my DACA-status, I am unable to apply for a nursing license — even though I want to be able to work and live in South Carolina as a nurse and help my community. If the laws stay the same, I plan to relocate and apply for a nursing license in another state and follow my dreams regardless.
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TheDream.US has provided over 5,000 college scholarships to DREAMers at more than 70 partner colleges in 16 states and Washington, DC.
The Scholars’ stories are especially powerful and poignant following the Supreme Court oral arguments on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, an executive action, which provided temporary legal protection for undocumented youth, terminated by President Trump in September 2017. The legal limbo and uncertainty is affecting Scholars’ lives, health, and futures and threatens to keep Scholars from fulfilling their incredible potential.
- Read through TheDream.US Scholar story-bank, featuring powerful personal reflections from Scholars about their lives, journeys, and future goals here
- Hear from two TheDream.US graduates, now working as a teacher and a nurse, discussing the impact of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program online here
- Watch a new video featuring TheDream.US college graduates online here
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