UC Gen-1 student: ‘I have to make an impact in the world’

“I needed to decide what I wanted to do to make an impact on my family’s bloodline,” Donald says. He grew up in a neighborhood where gun violence was a frequent occurrence. He lost a friend to gun violence in grade school and multiple friends and a cousin to the same fate by the time he had reached high school.

“I believe that education is our ticket to a world beyond where we come from. It is an opportunity to set a new standard for those that come behind us, as well as a thank you to those who have helped us come this far,” says big brother Joseph, currently pursuing a master’s degree at UC in community planning.

During his senior year, COVID-19 hit. “I went from being a very busy person and being involved to isolation,” Donald says. “But I believe it was a blessing in disguise. I learned not only to take care of myself and the people around me but to value the time we have in life.”  

“High school exposed me to students who wanted to do better despite what neighborhood they came from and that environment changed my mindset. I knew then that I wanted to attend college and achieve generational success for my family.”

But he needed a scholarship to follow that path. His high school counselors, he says, suggested the Gen-1 scholarship program at UC. “I knew that to go to UC I would have to receive that scholarship to stay on campus,” he says. “Now that I’ve been through my first year, I realize it was the right place for me to be all along.”

“UC gives the necessary support and resources for Black students to succeed.”

And the successes keep coming. This UC first-generation student is a Dean’s List scholar, a resident adviser in the 1MPACT House, an alpha ambassador for the Gen-1 program, a member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity and serves as a worship leader at Light of the World Church in nearby Walnut Hills. 

Donald hopes to eventually be a full-time minister. He’s added a focus track in marketing and communications and a minor in organizational leadership to his business administration major so that he can learn the full spectrum of skills needed to lead a congregation and run the operational side of a church.

“I have a very, very busy life, but being at UC taught me the importance of not only time, but how much time I have to make an impact in the world I live in.”

Featured image at top of Donald Whittle: Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Creative + Brand