2021 HIV League Micro-Scholarship
The HIV League continues to implement their micro-scholarship program, a needs-based scholarship opportunity, and 21 students living with HIV have been selected to receive a $1,000 scholarship for their Fall 2021 semester studies.
Billy Brown - He/Him
Billy will graduate with his Bachelor of Science in Psychology in December 2021 and will enter his master’s program specializing in treating trauma in January 2022. Billy is an active student participating in several leadership positions on Texas A&M University Texarkana campus and Texarkana College at the local, regional and state levels. He currently works as a Step UP! Coordinator on campus engaging all students how to step up against discrimination and other forms of hate individuals may encounter. Billy loves singing and has sung at Carnegie Hall in 2019 and will sing again in New York in 2022. His long-term dream is to open a fine arts treatment center where music, dance, and other forms of the arts are used as interventions.
Eastern Texas – Texas A&M University Texarkana
Barbara Darby - She/Her
Barbara Darby is a student at City College of San Francisco studying to be a Substance Use Addiction Counselor. She is am a proud mother of 4, grandmother of 15, and great-grandmother of 5. Family is extremely important to Barbara, especially during her own recovery journey of 24 years and journey living with HIV for 31 years. She loves people, cooking, hiking, vacationing and has a strong passion to give back to her community.
San Francisco, CA – City College of San Francisco
Brooke Davidoff - She/Her
Brooke Davidoff is two classes shy of her Associates of Arts in Human Services from Long Beach City College in California. She made the Dean's List there four semesters in a row and was the Social Media Chair for the Human Services Club on campus. She is a single mother and is transferring to the University of Kansas City Missouri for her BA. She will major in Communications with a minor in Women's Sexuality and Gender Studies. She is a blogger for TheBody.com and Positive Women's Network. Her poetry has been featured in numerous HIV poetry anthologies. She hopes to work in HIV advocacy by working with newly diagnosed HIV positive women and also wants to work in HIV education and prevention.
Long Beach, CA – Long Beach City College
Alejandro Gonzalez-Caceres - He/Him
Alejandro is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Mathematical Sciences at Florida International University. His future goals and interests include obtaining a master’s degree in Mathematical Sciences so he can contribute to the education of future generations as an educator.
Miami, FL – Florida International University
TerahAnn G. - She/Her
TerahAnn is a nurse of 26 years who has taken care of patients living with HIV throughout her career. She is currently a Nurse Practitioner for the last 7 years with certifications in HIV/Hepatitis-C care from the University of Chicago and Addictions/Buprenorphine Waiver certification from the American Society of Addiction Medicine. Although she suffered complications from HIV during her third year of graduate school, she was encouraged by her doctor to not stop and she continued on to complete her graduate degree and is now enrolled for her Doctorate degree with a post-grad certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health. She loves psych mental health and her aspirations are to reduce HIV stigma and to start a counseling service, specifically for patients with a new HIV diagnosis as well as patients living with HIV who are experiencing mental health concerns as well. She used to be very active in volunteering, mission trips, and traveling until her diagnosis which led her pausing some of the things she loves doing. After hiding her diagnosis for 10 years, TerahAnn has now become more comfortable in disclosing her diagnosis in recent years. She has become more active with HIV organizations such as Positive Women’s Network, HIV Modernization Movement, and a recently made HIV Research Advocates training group. Through these organizations, she plans to further advocate for the rights of people living with HIV by reducing stigma and discrimination.
Irvine, CA - Brandman University
Sato Hilario - He/Him
Sato Hilario is currently in his last year of his undergraduate studies at the City College of New York with a major in Biology and minor in Chemistry. Sato is in the Pre-Med track and is pursuing the goal of getting into a medical school. With a focus on emergency medicine, Sato has hopes of furthering research with integrative HIV medicine, which would incorporate elements of complementary and alternative medicine into comprehensive treatment plans alongside solidly orthodox methods of diagnosis and treatment.
Brooklyn, NY - City College of New York
Eunice Mejiadeu - She/Her
Eunice is a freshly new high school graduate from Winchester, Virginia, but is originally from Cameroon, Africa. In the fall, she will be studying African American History at Howard University. She hopes to pursue a future in public interest law. Eunice is an avid debater, and in her free time she enjoys watching anime, reading, and hanging out with her friends.
Winchester, VA - Howard University
Kara R. - She/They
Kara had been accepted into a nursing program last fall, but while in a patient's room, she realized she could help others better by switching her major to clinical social work. She completed the spring semester with an associate degree and begins her bachelor's program at Cal State East Bay this fall. She currently cares for hospice patients and their families. Kara hopes to pursue research into health issues her patients face to help future generations by using a whole family approach to treatment. Her ultimate goal is clinical research, social work, and community health. After losing her husband five years ago to hepatitis, her fiancé to cancer three years ago, and, by happenstance, discovering her HIV diagnosis just over a year ago, she has a drive and passion for helping others by finding solutions from their struggles. Kara is also a 41-year-old single mother of 3 children. In her spare time, she volunteers as a mentor to help other women overcome life-destabilizing situations and manages communal living homes for those coming out of shelters or treatment.
Sacramento, CA - California State University, East Bay
Miguel Garcia - He/Him
Miguel is an immigrant from Mexico who came to the US to fulfill his dream to become a nurse. He is currently working as a CNA in pediatric cancer care. Miguel lives in Seattle, Washington, and dedicates a big part of his time studying and preparing himself for the future.
Seattle, WA - Seattle Central College
Claudine Rose - She/Her
Claudine is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Health Service Administration at Monroe College. Her further goals and interests include managing a health facility and working with people living with HIV to support the implementation of interventions to support HIV treatment, adherence, and viral suppression. Claudine is passionate about helping others and is happy when others succeed.
Bronx, NY - Monroe College
Anonymous Scholarship Recipient - She/Her
This scholarship recipient is a 36-year-old lady Social Work major who’s an immigrant from Kenya and has worked as an interpreter, which helped confirm her passion of working and helping people in her community. Her goal is to enroll in Master’s in Clinical Social Work program right after graduation and hopes to work in hospitals. She is looking forward to starting off as a case manager and would like to eventually work with children and the young adults who are living with HIV. Her hobbies and interests include traveling, cooking, exploring new cuisines, and nature.
St. Louis, MO – Fontbonne University
Full-Time Computer Programming Student
Because of the nature of the HIV League Scholarship, recipients have the option to not make their name public. This HIV League Scholar requested to keep their name private, and we are respecting their wishes.
Atlanta, GA
Full-Time Public Health and Law Student
Because of the nature of the HIV League Scholarship, recipients have the option to not make their name public. This HIV League Scholar requested to keep their name private, and we are respecting their wishes.
Cleveland, OH
Full-Time Dietic and Nutrition Student
Because of the nature of the HIV League Scholarship, recipients have the option to not make their name public. This HIV League Scholar requested to keep their name private, and we are respecting their wishes.
Columbus, OH
Full-Time Interdisciplinary and Religious Studies Student
Because of the nature of the HIV League Scholarship, recipients have the option to not make their name public. This HIV League Scholar requested to keep their name private, and we are respecting their wishes.
Dallas, TX
Full-Time World Languages Student
Because of the nature of the HIV League Scholarship, recipients have the option to not make their name public. This HIV League Scholar requested to keep their name private, and we are respecting their wishes.
Houston, TX
Full-Time Sociology Student
Because of the nature of the HIV League Scholarship, recipients have the option to not make their name public. This HIV League Scholar requested to keep their name private, and we are respecting their wishes.
Houston, TX
Full-Time Marketing Student
Because of the nature of the HIV League Scholarship, recipients have the option to not make their name public. This HIV League Scholar requested to keep their name private, and we are respecting their wishes.
New York, NY
Full-Time Public Health Student
Because of the nature of the HIV League Scholarship, recipients have the option to not make their name public. This HIV League Scholar requested to keep their name private, and we are respecting their wishes.
New York, NY
Full-Time Business Administration Student
Because of the nature of the HIV League Scholarship, recipients have the option to not make their name public. This HIV League Scholar requested to keep their name private, and we are respecting their wishes.
Northern Virginia
Full-Time Human Development Student
Because of the nature of the HIV League Scholarship, recipients have the option to not make their name public. This HIV League Scholar requested to keep their name private, and we are respecting their wishes.
Southern California