The University of Pennsylvania’s Volunteers in Public Service scholarship program awarded supplemental scholarships to five local high school students at a ceremony Tuesday, June 9.  Moudima Diagouraga from West Philadelphia High School, Briana Fields from Overbrook, Princeton Jenkins from Sayre, Samantha Marchetti from Bartram and Niah Walton from Parkway West received VIPS scholarships in recognition of their community service efforts in West Philadelphia. 

Every year VIPS provides non-tuition scholarships to seniors from each of the five high schools, with the goal of helping the students attend college by providing additional financial support to cover expenses such as books, supplies, health insurance and other costs not usually covered by financial aid. 

Each VIPS scholarship winner also receives dorm room essentials gathered from the Penn MOVES program, including computers, printers, microwaves, mini-refrigerators, TVs, flash drives and other items, as well as a one-year membership to the Penn Museum. 

When not playing badminton, tennis or lacrosse, Moudima Diagouraga earned West Philadelphia High School’s highest amount of community service hours in one semester by working with the school’s chapter of buildOn. She plans to earn a nursing degree at the University of Cincinnati and work in a hospital. 

Samantha Marchetti is an honors student at Bartram High School. In addition to helping at school and participating in neighborhood cleanup efforts, she serves in the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps and has performed more hours of volunteer work than any other student at Bartram. She hopes to attend the Community College of Philadelphia, continue to volunteer and, one day, own her own business. 

Overbrook High School’s Briana Fields mentors students at Blankenburg Elementary School and painted her high school during a Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service event. As one of the first people in her family to go to college, she will attend Harrisburg University of Science and Technology in the fall and plans to become a teacher in computer science and technology. 

Princeton Jenkins attends Sayre High School and makes one-on-one connections with special needs students through the school’s Life Skills Program. Last summer, he served as a guide during the National Veterans Wheelchair Games. He plans to attend the Community College of Philadelphia and wants to become an attorney so that he can help others navigate the legal system. 

Since 2011, Niah Walton from Parkway West High School has served as a student advisory board representative at the University of Pennsylvania’s Upward Bound program and has also volunteered as an office assistant for the Parkside Association of Philadelphia, a community organization. After obtaining her teaching degree from Clarion University, Walton plans to travel and teach overseas. 

VIPS scholarship winners each must maintain a 2.5 grade point average or higher, demonstrate a history of community service and be accepted into an accredited college or university for the fall semester. 

Now in its 24th year, the VIPS program is a collaborative effort between Penn’s Barbara and Edward Netter Center for Community Partnerships, Office of Government and Community Affairs and Business Services Division.