Help Elsabeth Go to College to Study CS
Donation protected
My name is Elsabeth Assaye and I am about to graduate from Roosevelt High School in Seattle. I immigrated to the United States 7 years ago from Ethiopia and just became a U.S. citizen 3 months ago!
I decided when I was 12 that I wanted to study computer science. In high school, I started teaching myself Python and HTML and participating in tech programs such as Girls Who Code, Black Girls Code and Teckhack. These programs helped me gain interest and experience in the STEM field. At Roosevelt, I founded a Women In Tech because I wanted other girls to have the opportunity to develop their coding skills, explore different fields in the STEM field, and participate in workshops. Last summer, I was accepted into the Fred Hutchinson Summer High School Internship program with 23 other rising seniors in Washington, where I (remotely) solved STEM problems, wrote grant proposals and heard from different scientists at Fred Hutch.
Going to a predominantly white school, and being a leader for the Black Student Union and Women In Tech, has taught me how to have my voice heard and also chart a course towards majoring in computer science. We don't see many women of color represented in CS which makes me want to be a part of the change to get more people like me in the STEM field. Racial equity is personally very important to me because I experienced a lot of racism in high school. After I joined the BSU and later became the Vice President, I was able to overcome some of those difficulties by collaborating with people who were experiencing the same problems. When racial incidents occur at RHS, other BSU members and I try to solve the conflict and advocate for resolution in the best way that we can. Not only has this taught me how to be a leader, I get to help create a safe environment for other students like me.
I would be the first person in my family to get a college education - my mother never attended any institutions of higher education because it wasn't something women were expected to do. My mother, siblings and I initially moved to the U.S. with my father, however two years ago my parents divorced and we moved to Seattle. We are no longer in contact with my father, except for the small amount of child support we receive each month. My mother can't work due to chronic illness and we currently live in public housing. Due to all of these factors, I was hoping to receive enough financial aid to attend college, however every school I've been accepted at so far will cost me on average $25,000 per year after financial aid. I have very little ability to take out loans, due to my family's financial situation. I am currently trying to raise enough to pay for my first year of college.
I have applied for numerous scholarships and have won several but these are no where near enough to help me afford the cost of college. (https://rhs4racialequity.org/rare-awards-first-scholarships/)
I have currently been accepted to a number of schools and my top choices are NYIT, USFCA and UC Denver. I am currently waiting to hear back from UMD. I have been trying to get more financial aid from these schools but have not had much success.
I would appreciate anything you can donate to help me afford college. Especially if you are in the computer science industry, I promise I'll use my degree to make STEM a more fair and equitable place for everyone!
I decided when I was 12 that I wanted to study computer science. In high school, I started teaching myself Python and HTML and participating in tech programs such as Girls Who Code, Black Girls Code and Teckhack. These programs helped me gain interest and experience in the STEM field. At Roosevelt, I founded a Women In Tech because I wanted other girls to have the opportunity to develop their coding skills, explore different fields in the STEM field, and participate in workshops. Last summer, I was accepted into the Fred Hutchinson Summer High School Internship program with 23 other rising seniors in Washington, where I (remotely) solved STEM problems, wrote grant proposals and heard from different scientists at Fred Hutch.
Going to a predominantly white school, and being a leader for the Black Student Union and Women In Tech, has taught me how to have my voice heard and also chart a course towards majoring in computer science. We don't see many women of color represented in CS which makes me want to be a part of the change to get more people like me in the STEM field. Racial equity is personally very important to me because I experienced a lot of racism in high school. After I joined the BSU and later became the Vice President, I was able to overcome some of those difficulties by collaborating with people who were experiencing the same problems. When racial incidents occur at RHS, other BSU members and I try to solve the conflict and advocate for resolution in the best way that we can. Not only has this taught me how to be a leader, I get to help create a safe environment for other students like me.
I would be the first person in my family to get a college education - my mother never attended any institutions of higher education because it wasn't something women were expected to do. My mother, siblings and I initially moved to the U.S. with my father, however two years ago my parents divorced and we moved to Seattle. We are no longer in contact with my father, except for the small amount of child support we receive each month. My mother can't work due to chronic illness and we currently live in public housing. Due to all of these factors, I was hoping to receive enough financial aid to attend college, however every school I've been accepted at so far will cost me on average $25,000 per year after financial aid. I have very little ability to take out loans, due to my family's financial situation. I am currently trying to raise enough to pay for my first year of college.
I have applied for numerous scholarships and have won several but these are no where near enough to help me afford the cost of college. (https://rhs4racialequity.org/rare-awards-first-scholarships/)
I have currently been accepted to a number of schools and my top choices are NYIT, USFCA and UC Denver. I am currently waiting to hear back from UMD. I have been trying to get more financial aid from these schools but have not had much success.
I would appreciate anything you can donate to help me afford college. Especially if you are in the computer science industry, I promise I'll use my degree to make STEM a more fair and equitable place for everyone!
Organizer and beneficiary
Elsabeth Assaye
Organizer
Seattle, WA
Woudalat Beyene
Beneficiary