Building a Legacy of Diversity
Maya Sanders Class of 2021 knew right away that Grand Valley was the place for her.
Originally from Flint, MI, the campus felt far away enough, yet still close to home and her family. The small class sizes allowed her to feel connected with the faculty and staff, ultimately making GVSU feel like home. Once at Grand Valley, Maya decided to study Behavioral Neuroscience and now holds a leadership role on campus as the President of the Lambda Pi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. “I wanted to become more involved on campus. The chapter members of Lambda Pi put on events that aligned with things I believed in, such as community service and mental health stigmas, all while embracing sisterhood and the African American community,” states Maya.
When previous members of the Lambda Pi Chapter came back to GVSU to celebrate 45 years of being chartered on Grand Valley’s campus they came up with the idea to create a scholarship that will help African American students for years to come.
The Legendary Lambda Pi Legacy Endowed Scholarship supports young students of color who face financial difficulties to getting an education, and is another step in the right direction in creating opportunities for diversity at Grand Valley.
“Throughout history and within society, young people of color haven’t necessarily had the same educational opportunities,” says Maya. “I believe this scholarship will inspire young people in the African American community to seek better opportunities for themselves and have an incredible impact on the world around them, regardless of their financial means.”
Maya feels it is important to support the Legendary Lambda Pi Legacy Endowed Scholarship because it will have a direct impact on African American students who want to attend Grand Valley.
“African American students don’t necessarily have the same opportunities provided to them, and don’t always have the same resources, and this will allow them to seek better opportunities for themselves and for their future. Now, more than ever, it’s important to support diversity at Grand Valley,” says Maya.