PYD partnered with Denny’s Hungry for Education campaign to award five $1,800 scholarships to high school and college students with disabilities across the country to further their education. The scholarship will impact recipients in a number of ways.
Eli Breen from Jasper, GA, will be attending University of Georgia in the fall.
“This scholarship will allow me to pursue my education beyond high school with reduced financial burden and greater flexibility to take advantage of future opportunities.”
Lawrence Stanton Edwards, from Gwynn Oak, MD, is an upcoming Junior at Morgan State University, majoring in Civil Engineering.
“Winning this scholarship means that the pressure and stress I feel because I am self-funding my education is minimized and that I can focus on my goals to be more sociable and my civil engineering student obligations. It also makes me feel good to know that Denny’s believes in my vision and I am looking forward to participating in social events with people like me.”
Tyara St Jean, from Miami Gardens, FL, is a Health Education major and will be graduating from Morgan State University in the fall.
“I am truly grateful for this opportunity as I will continue to represent and advocate for students with disabilities. As someone living with Sickle Cell disease and Type 1 Diabetes, college hasn’t always been easy. I often juggle rigorous coursework with medical appointments, hospital visits, fatigue, and medication management. Despite these challenges, I remain committed to my academics and my leadership roles. Financial stress, however, continues to be a burden. Receiving this scholarship relieves that pressure by allowing me to dedicate more energy to my studies, service, and professional development without sacrificing my health.”
Kaiden Taylor, from Oakland, CA, plans to attend California State University Sacramento in the fall.
“Winning the Denny’s Hungry for Education Scholarship would mean more than just financial support for my education—it would represent recognition of my hard work, goals, and commitment to making a difference. This scholarship would help reduce the stress of paying for college, allowing me to focus more on my studies and future career.
It would also motivate me to continue giving back to my community. Being selected shows that my voice and ideas matter, and it inspires me to keep working toward creating positive change, especially in areas like education, health, or community support.
Overall, winning this scholarship would be both an opportunity and a responsibility to succeed academically and to use what I learn to help others.”
MyJoi Williams, from Alpharetta, GA, will be attending Kennesaw State University in the fall.
“Winning the Denny’s Hungry for Education Scholarship means everything to me because it validates the long nights, the sacrifices, and the unwavering belief I’ve held onto even when the path felt uncertain. It represents more than financial support; it feels like someone seeing my potential, believing in my dreams, and investing in the future I’ve worked so hard to build. Most of all, it strengthens my commitment to give back, because when someone believes in me this deeply, I feel an even greater responsibility to become a source of hope and opportunity for others.”
Congratulations to each scholarship winner. We can’t wait to see what they achieve!
