Meet Ashlee Wedgeworth of Enrichment Scholarship Fund

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashlee Wedgeworth.

Ashlee, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
The importance of higher education and academic success was instilled in me at a very young age. At the age of five, I was reading at a 3rd-grade level, was valedictorian of my kindergarten class and maintained the honor roll all throughout my academic years. I always knew that I wanted to go to college and realized how difficult this would be financially when I entered high school. I do not come from wealth nor were my parents in a position to assist with paying for college.

Growing up, I did not have mentors or someone pushing me to the next level. I was left to figure things out on my own when it came to navigating the college process. In high school, I struggled with application and exam fees and remember being stressed about the cost of a parking permit for college students. I applied for various scholarships and received some small awards but ultimately, it was through grants and loans that my college education was funded. I was accepted to several schools and many of them were out of state.

Unfortunately, due to finances, I had to start- and end- my college career in Colorado. My freshman year of college I was supposed to attend Florida A&M University but without enough financial aid or assistance, I had to stay in-state at Colorado State University. In my sophomore year, I attended Louisiana State University and this is when I had my first child. After completing my sophomore year, I returned home to attend the University of Colorado, Denver, where I completed my Bachelor’s Degree. From there, I attended the University of Denver for my Master’s. Because of the loans I acquired for this education, I realize how important it is that students have someone who mentors them through this process and that options are available for funding. I now have four children of my own and planning for their education started at birth.

I decided to start the Enrichment Scholarship Fund in 2018. During this time I was apart of the Urban Leadership Foundation and connected with another member in my cohort, Shalelia Dillard. Shalelia had a vision to serve students of color in advanced coursework and invited me to join the Board of Directors of the St. Clair Drake Enrichment Program. Through our work in building this program, I decided to add another component. I began to think about some of the obstacles I faced during high school while seeking higher education such as college application fees, exams and book fees, lack of mentorship and I wanted a way to be supportive of other students in their journey.

Through my reflection, the Enrichment Scholarship Fund was born. The purpose of the Enrichment Scholarship Fund is to provide financial support and mentorship to high school and college students of color who are seeking post-secondary education options. The Enrichment Scholarship Fund helps students navigate their college and trade school options through providing financial support to offset small financial costs that may prove to be a barrier for college access.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It absolutely has not. Actually, we are in the very beginning stages of everything. Some of the leg work has been done and Shalelia has been amazing in launching her program and is currently serving several students in various middle and high schools. The biggest barrier for the scholarship fund has been funding or investors. We are currently seeking opportunities for funding and looking to build some partnerships so that we are able to invest in the students. We are still building the scholarship fund and are looking for other individuals who would be interested in contributing to the fund so that we may impact more students.

Please tell us about Enrichment Scholarship Fund.
Award. Scholarship funds can be used for any College/University or Trade School in the United States. The Enrichment Scholarship is a one-time scholarship option for College and Trade School Students and a two-year commitment for the Pre-collegiate program. Scholarship funds can be used for college application fees, exam fees and college entry fees.

The Pre-Collegiate Scholarship Mentor Program for the Enrichment Scholarship Fund offers high school students the opportunity to prepare for college by completing our support program. Students will receive assistance with writing essays, completing college applications, financial aid applications, applying for scholarships and ongoing mentoring and support.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I would absolutely say dedication. The passion, vision and commitment is there and we are looking to launch very soon. I am involved in various leadership programs and community organizations and through these partnerships, I will begin spreading the word about the scholarship fund and networking to build funds. It is crucial that I use the resources that I have and skills acquired to maintain the success of the program.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.scdenrichment.org
• Email: ashleewedgeworth@gmail.com

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