Pitt Scholars & Stewards: African American Alumni Council Endowed Scholarship

Medical Aspirations

Kyle Anthony

Kyle Anthony is striving to achieve big goals. The freshman entered the University of Pittsburgh in the fall of 2009 as a biology major with a focus on pre-medicine. Anthony hopes to eventually enroll in medical school and become a doctor. With such challenging aspirations, the African American Alumni Council (AAAC) found Anthony to be the perfect scholarship candidate.

The AAAC’s mission is to support the African American alumni community by strengthening the community’s connection to the University of Pittsburgh. It also promotes the recruitment and retention of African American students. The group has supported student scholarships since the late 1980s. In October, the AAAC announced the public phase of a $3 million campaign to fund scholarships for underrepresented students.

Anthony was awarded the AAAC endowed scholarship, which will help him with the cost of attending what he calls his perfect-match school. While researching universities in high school, Anthony’s main criteria were location and reputation. As a Chicago native, Anthony liked that Pitt offers both a city and a campus environment.

“This scholarship has affected my life in many ways. Along with the financial impact, it has also made me proud to be recognized for my academic achievements,” Anthony said. With the rising cost of education and the nation’s economy in turmoil, Anthony knows that every penny counts. He said he is incredibly grateful to the AAAC donors “for their generosity toward future generations.” Anthony added that while he remains uncertain about which medical specialty he will pursue, he is certain that he wants to eventually give back to the community and help others reach their goals, just like the AAAC has helped him.