Deeannah M. Taylor ’09 • Commencement speaker, December 2009 • Double major in Psychology and Spanish, Dean’s List, award-winning presenter, prospective clinical child psychologist • Single mother of 5-year-old Ja

Forever Frostburg

On commencement day, Deeannah said this to her fellow graduates:

“Nothing about college has been easy, at least not for me. There were times when I didn’t think that I’d make it here. You see, according to the statistics of the average young single mother, I’m not supposed to be here, standing in front of you all today. I wasn’t even supposed to graduate from high school, let alone college.

When you’re approached by your peers, professors and strangers alike about the importance of what you’re doing, you can’t help but boldly state, 'I am not the average teen mother.' I was not raised to be either mediocre or average; this is simply not something I am capable of being.”

If I hadn’t received the scholarships I did, I wouldn’t have made it past the first semester of my freshman year. They allowed me to focus more on my daughter and my studies, without the looming fear of what I would do when the time came to pay all of the money back. I am very thankful for every scholarship that I received.

Now more than ever, every gift counts!

As you know, Frostburg has always served students who might not otherwise afford a college education. The current economic and budget situation makes this more difficult, but the FSU Foundation has created Forever Frostburg, an emergency scholarship program for students with the greatest need. It will close the gap left by both decreases in State funding and increasing student need. Students like Deeannah are counting on contributions from people like you to help them make their dreams come true.

To make your contribution, please contact:

B.J. Davisson, II ’81
bjdavisson@frostburg.edu
301.687.4161
www.frostburg.edu/waystogive