Diamond Martin ’22 has faced adversity, persevered, and came out on top. She credits the Mount for much of her transformation and growth. Diamond came to the University of Mount Saint Vincent as a member of the Mott Street Scholarship Program, which serves young adults who have persevered through foster care or homelessness and covers their tuition, room and board, fees, books, a computer, insurance, and many other support services to help them succeed.
For Diamond, the Mott Street Scholarship Program made all the difference.
We invite you to learn more about Diamond’s Mount Made journey—made possible only through your generous support of the Mott Street Scholarship Program at the University of Mount Saint Vincent.
Diamond, who didn’t have a great experience at her first college and was looking for the right school to transfer to, ended up at the University after hearing about the Mount’s participation in the New York State Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP). She inquired to learn more, connected with someone on campus, and the rest was history. After coming to the beautiful and welcoming campus to fill out paperwork for the program, she immediately knew this was the place for her.
The Mount would become her home.
However, there was still one challenge that stood in her way: with a ride of over two and a half hours on public transportation to get to the Mount from where she was staying, commuting was not a viable option. Yet, Diamond still felt called to the Mount.
After learning that she qualified to receive the Mott Street Scholarship, Diamond gained the opportunity to live on campus year-round in a supportive community of peers who have also faced similar life challenges. Diamond found a place to call home—a place where she could be herself and confidently conquer her college journey and follow her dreams.
“The individuals I met through the Mott Street Scholarship Program have helped make our individual circumstances bearable,”
Diamond shared.
“Although we’ve walked different paths before the Mount, without it, we wouldn’t have found each other.”
Diamond found the special relationships with fellow Mott Street Scholars completely life-changing. Those incredible relationships continued with her advisor and staff from departments across campus, who motivated her to do better and accomplish more. At the Mount, she was not a number. She was Diamond—a dedicated student who could achieve anything she set her mind to.
When Diamond arrived at the University, she wanted to become fully immersed both in and beyond the classroom. She was involved in clubs and organizations and held various roles on campus, taking advantage of all the special experiences that the Mount has to offer. From becoming an active member of WORDS, a dance and photography club—which fueled her love of creative expression—to serving as a peer leader and then job coach for the Bridge Program, Diamond learned more about herself and the future life she wanted to create.
Through her roles in the Bridge Program, in particular, where she was able to work with young adults with developmental and intellectual challenges to help them find their place at the Mount, she found her love of teaching and giving back to young people. Those experiences, together with her coursework, solidified her desire to educate and positively influence others.
Because of her endless hard work, perseverance, and courage—coupled with the support of our alumnae/i and friends—Diamond walked across the Commencement stage in 2022 and began her new life as a college graduate. She went on to complete the renowned Disney College Program, where she lived and worked at Walt Disney World. After completing that incredible experience, she was even more confident that her passion for educating others and giving back to the community was where her interests lied. Diamond went back to her roots and became a substitute teacher at Brooklyn Collaborative Studies—where she went to school—which turned into a full-time role finishing the 2023-24 academic year as a seventh grade math teacher.
The generosity and support of our donors make dreams like Diamond’s possible. The opportunities the Mount provides through the Mott Street Scholarship Program are life-changing, enabling young people to learn and grow holistically in a safe, warm, and nurturing community of people who care deeply about them and their success.
Diamond is one of approximately 24 Mott Street graduates who have found their home at the Mount and who have gone on to truly make a difference in the lives of others.
“Thank you for believing in us to beat the odds and remain focused throughout our college experience,” Diamond reflected. “Please continue to support the generations that come after us because they will continue to change the world. We are grateful to have you all in our corner and hope we can someday support individuals in the way you’ve supported us.”