Tyler Endowed Scholarship Impact Report 2024

CALVIN & TINA Tyler

ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP IMPACT REPORT 2024

Dear Calvin and Tina,

With heartfelt gratitude, I present the enclosed report for the Calvin and Tina Tyler Scholarship Endowment. As you skim through the pages of this report, you will see that your scholarship has had a profound and transformative impact on students at Morgan State University spanning more than 20 years. You have inspired many acts of resilience and determination and fueled the achievements of bright and talented students who may not have otherwise had access to higher education or matriculated through degree attainment.

Since the establishment of the endowment, we have witnessed remarkable successes among the Tyler scholars. In keeping with Morgan’s mission to “grow the future” and “lead the world,” these individuals are excelling academically and making significant contributions to their communities and society at large. Your generosity has enabled them to pursue their passions, engage in cutting-edge research and become leaders in their fields of endeavor.

As you peruse this booklet and reflect on the impact of your generosity, know that it serves as a beacon of hope and possibility, reminding us of the transformative power of education and its profound impact on individuals, families and communities.

Looking ahead, we are committed to continuing our responsible stewardship of your investment to ensure it makes a lasting difference for generations to come. Once again, thank you for your extraordinary generosity and commitment to your beloved beneficiary, Morgan State University. Your endowment signifies more than financial support; it represents a commitment to breaking down longstanding barriers to education and empowering deserving students to pursue their dreams and not only dance on the world stage but excel with the confidence, determination and discipline of a Morgan Made leader.

Respectfully,

Endia M. DeCordova, MBA Vice President for Institutional Advancement, Morgan State University Executive Director, Morgan State University Foundation

Dear Calvin and Tina Tyler Scholarship,

My name is Norah Carolyn McLaughlin, and I am a freshman at Morgan, now entering my second semester! I am attending MSU to earn my bachelor’s degree in Social Work with a minor in Psychology. I am strongly considering pursuing my master’s degree to broaden my career opportunities down the line. Currently, I am a volunteer at the Maryland SPCA!

Unlike many of my peers, I did not always know what I wanted to be when I grew up. I would picture myself in the different uniforms that came with each job, such as a doctor, firefighter or astronaut. None of them made my lightbulb go off quite like the career I am pursuing now. The day I discovered the field of social work, I couldn’t imagine a more fitting career! Specifically, I plan to start my career working in Child Protective Services with the goal of later transitioning into psychotherapy.

Thank You,

Norah McLaughlin

Hometown: Baltimore, MD

Social Work Major and Psychology Minor Freshman (Class of 2027)

Dear Calvin and Tina Tyler Scholarship,

I’m Laquan Johnson. I’m a sophomore majoring in Psychology at Morgan State University. I took part in the Inter-Residence Hall Council and am currently Mr. Altus at the Altus Towson Row apartment complex. I am retaining a 3.0 grade point average and making good progress toward a 4.0. In the future, I want to establish a program that helps adolescents who are struggling with mental health problems express their thoughts and feelings via painting, dancing, photography and other mediums. In addition to becoming a mentor or therapist, my goal is to become a photographer.

Dear Calvin and Tina Tyler Scholarship,

I would like to thank the Tyler Scholarship for helping provide the funds needed to attend Morgan State and pursue my passion for computer science. Thanks to the aid you provided, I can advance my studies and develop my skills at this amazing institution.

Thank you, Morgan State, for this scholarship opportunity and for recognizing me. I will politely hold onto it and stay driven until I graduate and achieve my long-term objective of being a therapist or mentor.

Sincerely,

Laquan

Johnson

Hometown: Baltimore, MD Psychology Major Sophomore (Class of 2026)

Thanks to you, I try my very best to succeed and always put my best foot forward. Even though I may stumble from time to time, I keep pushing forward because of the confidence you placed in me. I am very blessed and would like to thank you for considering me to receive such an honor.

Sincerely,

Malik Kyle Phillip

Hometown: Baltimore, MD Computer Science Major Junior (Class of 2025)

Dear Calvin and Tina Tyler Scholarship,

I am writing to express my heartfelt gratitude for the continued support of the Calvin and Tina Tyler Scholarship. As I progress into another semester of my academic journey here at Morgan State, I am reminded of the significance this scholarship holds for my educational aspirations and personal growth.

I am now a sophomore in my second semester, continuing to strive hard here at Morgan. This year, I encountered a few obstacles that I faced and learned from, and I eventually grew from the experiences they afforded me. This year, so far, I have kept my grades up, to show that I am truly worthy of the honor of being a Tyler scholar. This semester, I plan to join an organization and volunteer for more service here at Morgan and in my community.

The Calvin and Tina scholarship and the committee have continued to support me and help make my college experience easier, which I am forever grateful for. Once again, thank you for the trust and confidence placed in me through your continued support. Your generosity will continually be remembered as a vital part of my academic and professional journey.

Sincerely,

Danae Smith

Hometown: Upper Marlboro, MD Business Administration, Marketing Major Sophomore (Class of 2026)

Dear Calvin and Tina Tyler Scholarship,

My name is Tamia Richburg. I’m a sophomore from Philadelphia Pennsylvania aspiring to become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. I am currently involved in the organizations sisters in Medicine and Absolutely Beautiful & Confident. I’d like to work with babies or young kids in hospitals in different units. Im very interested in the Nicu at moment. I’d like to thank Morgan state and the Morgan state foundation for making this opportunity possible funding my school journey at Morgan. I’m beyond grateful for this opportunity. The biggest thank you to Calvin and Tina Tyler for making this happen for me and other scholars who were granted this privilege.

Thank You,

Tamia Richburg

Hometown: Philadelphia, PA Nursing Major Sophomore (Class of 2026)

Dear Calvin and Tina Tyler Scholarship,

My name is Alecia Bonefont, and I am honored to be one of this year’s Calvin and Tina Tyler Scholarship recipients. I would like to thank you for your generosity in funding the scholarship, which has allowed me the opportunity to pursue my dreams at Morgan State University without having to endure the financial stress of being unable to afford it.

I completed my sophomore year at Morgan majoring in Electrical Engineering – Cybersecurity, with an overall 3.67 GPA. In addition to my academics, I belong to the Society of Women Engineers, the National Society of Black Engineers, and Steel Bridge. I was selected for the 2023 Department of Defense HBCU/MI Summer Internship Program, furthering my professional aspiration to become an electrical engineer. The internship provided hands-on experience developing/ referencing technical drawings, gathering aircraft documents to develop simulations, creating designs of weapons systems and programming consoles/documents on Ardupilot using Python.

Receiving this scholarship motivates me to strive even harder, as I want to show my gratitude for someone having confidence in me. I am looking forward to my junior year at MSU in the Electrical Engineering – Cyber Security program. Finally, thank you once again for your confidence and willingness to help me achieve my goals. I will not disappoint you and, in the future, I will bless someone with the same opportunity that was given to me!

Sincerely,

Alecia Bonefont

Hometown: Charlotte Hall, MD Electrical Engineering Major Junior (Class of 2025)

Dear Calvin and Tina Tyler Scholarship,

This is my second year receiving the Calvin and Tina Tyler Scholarship, and I am still filled with both shock and gratitude. I wanted to write this thank you letter to express my appreciation for your believing in me and for the constant support offered to me and my family. My name is Beyania Dover, and I am a Psychology major with a minor in Criminal Justice who will graduate in 2026. I am from New Brunswick, New Jersey. I live with my mom, dad and brother. When I got the news that I received this scholarship, it took a huge burden off my parents’ shoulders.

Throughout my life, my parents did everything in their power to ensure that I was well taken care of, and they were going to make sure that by all means, I was going to come to my dream school. And as exceptionally grateful for them as I am, I saw how much stress it was putting on them, and I wanted to take that stress off of them, because my brother is still very young, and that’s a priority for them as well. Once receiving the scholarship last year, I did everything in my power to make sure I kept the scholarship and ensured my parents that I would make them proud. I also wanted to make sure that, because this scholarship found me and took a chance on me, I did everything I could to make sure they knew it was not a mistake.

This scholarship means so much to my family and me. I want to say thank you again for taking this chance on a small-town girl with big dreams, like me. I also want to thank and commend you for your concern, faith and commitment to helping students like me at Morgan State University. So many wishes are coming true, and through your scholarship fund, you are placing so many Black-educated students into the world to make a change.

Sincerely,

Beyania Dover

Hometown: New Brunswick, NJ Psychology Major and Criminal Justice Minor Sophomore (Class of 2026)

Dear Calvin and Tina Tyler Scholarship,

As a fourth-generation Morgan student, I would like to thank the Tyler Scholarship Fund for helping me to become my family’s next Morgan graduate. Both of my parents and a host of aunts, uncles and cousins attended Morgan and shared the legacy of excellence and the sense of home with each subsequent generation. Morgan has been a part of my life for my entire life. In fact, my parents met at Morgan in 1992.

I was born in Baltimore, but my parents relocated when I was two years old. I was raised in a predominantly white school system, but my parents made sure that I stayed connected to my Baltimore roots, and Morgan was always my top school to attend. Once I decided on engineering, Morgan was at the top of my list. However, out-of-state tuition was definitely a concern.

The Tyler Scholarship has been a tremendous help in my academic journey. This scholarship has allowed me to get an education from a well-regarded engineering school and the university I always wanted to attend. I sincerely thank you for giving generously and helping others. I am honored to be a Tyler Scholarship Fund recipient and looking forward to walking the stage.

My future goals are to own a house, make a living by both working at a company and doing independent projects and be able to pay for my children’s education. I would also like to own a business and create generational wealth.

Thank you for supporting me!

Sincerely,

Reece A. Winmond

Hometown: Baltimore, MD – New Freedom, PA

Major: Electrical Engineering, Junior (Class of 2025)

Tyler Scholars Fund Overview

Since 2003, the Tyler Scholars Fund has been creating opportunities for students at Morgan State University to pursue their dreams of earning a college degree. The fund has provided nearly $1.6 million in support to over four hundred students with either full tuition scholarships or partial awards.

The students who received funding from the Tyler Scholars Fund are from a range of diverse backgrounds and major in a variety of disciplines including Architecture, Social Work, Journalism and Nursing.

“Nothing feels good as giving.”

– Calvin and Tina Tyler