DIHEF Scholarship Program Success Story: Amanda York

Miss Amanda York is a rising sophomore attending Wayne State University, located in Detroit, Michigan, in the prestigious Med-Direct program with both admissions to undergraduate and medical school. She plans to pursue a MD/PhD. She is majoring in Chemistry and minoring in African American Studies.  

Amanda earned her high school diploma from Central High School in Phoenix, Arizona and throughout her high school career she was: Valedictorian, Varsity Volleyball Captain, a Gold Award Girl Scout and now a lifetime Girl Scout, a member of National Honors Society, a participant in AZ StrongTies, a Global Studies magnet student, and a debutante in the LINKS Inc. 2020 Cotillion. Miss York is also very proud to say she completed the three year Delta Academy and four year Delta GEMS program with the Phoenix Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Inc. In addition, she was a Presidential Youth Conference representative from the chapter. 

In her first year of college, during the Covid-19 pandemic, she was able to maintain a 3.82 GPA. Although not being able to be as active as she wanted, Amanda was able to continue to serve her communities in Detroit and Phoenix. She’s served as a virtual mentor to several students back home in Phoenix by editing Personal Statements, Resumes, and college applications. She has witnessed at least 10 of her mentees gain admissions to the colleges of their dreams with her advice and is very proud of them. Also in getting acquainted to her new community in Detroit, Michigan, she’s participated in community service with a local outreach organization called Life Remodeled, where she distributed food items to the community during the Covid-19 pandemic.

During summer 2021, Amanda will be completing research with the Henry Ford Health System on reproductive justice. Miss York will be volunteering at a Phoenix community daycare and with Girl Scouts.