A New Outlook
College was out of reach.
Then her scholarship enabled her to inspire others.
A fresh perspective
For Moesha Grant ’21, attending West Chester University has given her more than academic direction. It’s provided a new outlook on life — for herself and her community.
Moesha’s upbringing was marred by financial hardship and domestic abuse. The youngest of seven siblings, she sought to be the first in her family to graduate from college. However, she struggled to find the money or support to sustain her vision.
After applying to WCU, Moesha received the Board of Governors Scholarship for her academic and extracurricular achievements in high school. The award allowed her to enroll, supplementing the money she’d saved working part-time. At the end of her freshman year, Moesha also received the Helen Man Memorial Scholarship — through the West Chester University Foundation.
For Moesha, the scholarship meant she could afford textbooks, housing, a meal plan, and other basic necessities. “My parents didn’t complete high school, so I never realized how much textbooks cost in college,” Moesha says. “If it weren’t for these scholarships, I wouldn’t have been able to even attempt to afford my education.”
She continues, “I come from an environment where kids get trapped in the community. People have expectations about going to college, but then those expectations drift away. It’s easy to get too comfortable — but at WCU, I can push myself outside my comfort zone.”
Moesha Grant ’21
Recipient of the Helen Man Memorial Scholarship
“I come from a background where support is hard to find. This scholarship showed me that people care — and that success is about giving back to your community.”
“I come from a background where support is hard to find. This scholarship showed me that people care — and that success is about giving back to your community.”
More than a degree
Moesha has fully immersed herself into her life at WCU. Driven by her passion for math and finding the meaning behind numbers, she’s majoring in accounting and minoring in white collar crime. She also serves as a PricewaterhouseCoopers campus ambassador, as well as programs coordinator for WCU’s chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants — all while maintaining a 3.89 GPA.
Aside from her academic achievements, Moesha says she’s surprised by her own personal progress — from learning to resolve conflicts to becoming a stronger leader. “I didn’t expect to grow so much emotionally and socially in college,” she says. “WCU has an environment that feels like a home. It’s made me more confident about pursuing my future.”
Moesha found the guidance to grow from her resident assistants, her peer mentors at the Dowdy Multicultural Center, and her mentor May Van M’89, who established the Helen Man Memorial Scholarship in honor of her mother. Moesha and May meet a few times a semester to catch up and swap stories.
“May helped me realize that someone is actually listening — that people really care about students at WCU,” Moesha says. “I used to think college was about getting a degree, then getting out. My mentorships helped me think about relating back to my own community — and to realize why I’m here.”
Pulling others up
For Moesha, becoming her family’s first college graduate is more than a point of pride. It’s an opportunity to set a new standard.
“I’m getting to do something many of my family members wished they could have done, but couldn’t because of financial struggles and life tragedies,” Moesha says. “It means creating a new norm for my family. I want to give hope to my community and show them that a college degree is attainable.”
Before she graduates, however, there’s still a lot Moesha is looking to accomplish. She wants to create more community service events. She wants to form more meaningful relationships with her peers and professors. And she wants to create a new mentoring program to help business majors get connected with internships and externships.
“Being at WCU is more than just getting your work done. How else are you involved? How are you contributing?” Moesha says. “I’ve learned that success is not about your status or the money you make, but the impact you make on your community.”
And after graduation? Moesha wants to contribute to scholarships — giving future students the same chance she was given herself. “There are people who I started college with who are no longer here because of financial issues,” she says. “No one should be denied the opportunity to go to college because they can’t afford it. Everyone deserves an education.”
