Meet Walden Education for Good Scholarship Recipients

Meet four of Walden’s inaugural recipients and see how they are making a difference.

This spring, Walden University announced the inaugural recipients of its Education for Good scholarship. These 26 students demonstrated strong academic success and great financial challenges on their journey toward graduation. The scholarship is provided by the Empower Scholarship Fund, which receives support from employees across the Adtalem Global Education family of institutions, including Walden.

Here are a few of the recipients’ stories.

Barclay Murphy

Not long after Barclay Murphy got married, a fellow Army wife shared some advice: “Always bloom where you are planted, because you will be planted lots of places.” As she and her husband moved from base to base and started a family, she remembered those words and was active in the Army community.

When her husband, Major Edward Murphy, died in a 2005 helicopter crash in Afghanistan, she increased her activism on behalf of military widows and surviving family members. For many years, she served as a voice for Gold Star families on the board of the Windy25 Memorial Fund. Today, she is a university ROTC mentor, and she provided testimony about the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors to U.S. Congressional committees this spring.

While raising two children as a single mom, she earned a master’s degree and then enrolled in Walden’s PhD in Public Policy and Administration program. “Gaining the credentials to make my voice heard prompted me to return to school. Having my PhD will open doors I never thought were possible,” Murphy says. “As my youngest heads to college and my survivor benefits decrease, this scholarship means I now have the opportunity to complete my education.”

Andy Pierre

A Haitian immigrant raised in an inner-city neighborhood, Andy Pierre was both witness to and victim of violent crimes. He experienced fear, anxiety, and emotional pain. Around him, he saw others affected by trauma and impacted again by the lack of resources to address it.

Pierre wants to bring change to communities like the one where he grew up. To do that, he’s earning an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Pierre is in the internship portion of his program where he is recognized for his heart, humility, and passion with underprivileged, at-risk populations.

“I plan on using my Walden education to educate, spread awareness, advocate, and provide mental health services to marginalized groups,” he says.

Losing his job due to COVID-19 added to his financial pressures, but he is continuing toward his dreams. “With this scholarship, I will have more financial stability,” Pierre says. “I hope one day I will be able to help students achieve their goals just as you have helped me.”

Eudora Mordi

When Eudora Mordi couldn’t find a program that met the needs of her autistic son, she decided to go back to school so that she could one day open her own.“The center would be able to better serve the needs of autism spectrum disorder individuals with emphasis on early intervention so they can maintain a decent and independent lifestyle,” Mordi says.

To make her dream a reality for others, she is pursuing an MS in Psychology with a specialization in Applied Behavior Analysis at Walden. That goal was jeopardized when she had to close her African/Caribbean restaurant during COVID-19, but she is rebuilding it now.

“This scholarship will go a long way in assisting me with educational needs and set me on my goal to complete my program as scheduled. I have to hang in there.”

Mary Lee

When Mary Lee came to the United States, she thought she and her husband would stay until he finished his studies. In her native Korea, she was a social worker pursuing a PhD and teaching at a college. That was 15 years ago.

Today, she is a mother of three, a Walden Doctor of Social Work student, and a full-time social worker in Fairfax County, Virginia. She is known for going above and beyond for her clients: older adults and adults with disabilities. She also volunteers on evenings and weekends with her faith community.

“I was a foreigner and a stranger who lacked English and culture in America. I struggled with losing my self-esteem and confidence,” Lee says. “However, through that experience, I have a more profound empathy for marginalized and vulnerable people. This gave me the courage to start helping people in need.”