Meet Ronnesha
Nearly every day of the week, Ronnesha Wingo wakes up before the Louisiana sun. She pulls double-duty as a junior at Dillard University, and a cadet in the Reserve Officer Training Corps, or ROTC.
The combination will enable Ronnesha to enter the U.S. Air Force, her launching pad to becoming a forensic scientist in the FBI. Thanks to Marian, Ronnesha has been charting this course since the 5th grade.
But it easily could have come crashing down. The summer before she entered 8th grade, Ronnesha lost a close family member. The event galvanized her desire to one day help other families who needed the support that her family didn’t receive.
“I wanted to stay positive, and every teacher at Marian helped me prepare for my future. It was like I was everyone’s daughter, not just a number.”
Marian’s Graduate Support Team was there every step of the way, first introducing her to high-performing high schools until she found the perfect fit. After entering Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School, Ronnesha joined Marian’s essay-writing and financial aid workshops, and participated in college immersion experiences to prepare for the next leg of her journey.
In 2017, she became one of Marian’s first students to attend Dillard University. Today, Marian’s Graduate Support Team remains connected with Ronnesha to ensure her coursework is balanced, financial aid is in-place and she’s fully leveraging every resource available.
Ronnesha recently applied for and won a prestigious chemistry scholarship that will give her on-the-job experience. In two years, she’ll graduate as a Second Lieutenant in the ROTC.
Clearly Ronnesha IS THRIVING. In June, 2019, 100% of Marian alumnae graduated from high school and are thriving too. The majority face poverty, but with Marian’s support, they catapult ahead of their peers.
In honor of our 20th anniversary Educating Girls for Life, now is your opportunity to create a legacy and help us continue Transforming Lives and Building Our Future. Will you give a special gift to support future leaders like Ronnesha?
Simply put, Marian is a wise investment. Thank you for your partnership with Marian – together we’re breaking the cycle of poverty, one Marian Girl at a time.
