The NEED Podcast

How a Single Scholarship Transforms Families, Communities, and Futures

• Dr. Marcia Sturdivant • Episode 5

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What Is The Ripple Effect Of Supporting One Student?

What if helping one student isn’t small at all, but the start of a chain reaction? We dig into how a single scholarship and a trusted mentor can rewrite a life story—and how those stories scale into a nationwide network of alumni who lift as they climb. From a 1963 beginning to more than 48,000 graduates today, we trace how belief, access, and accountability compound over time.

We share a vivid case study of a student who found direction with a college advisor, graduated from Morehouse with honors, earned a law degree at Georgia State, and returned as an alumni liaison to mentor the next wave. Alongside the story, we unpack fresh data from a dedicated analysis: NEED alumni outperform peers across socioeconomic status, occupational outcomes, health and wellness, and civic engagement. When compared with the broader African American population—and even against white populations—the gap in wealth, education, and achievement narrows for alumni, underscoring how targeted college access and support alter long-term trajectories.

Across the conversation, we highlight why relatable mentorship matters, how the annual scholarship dinner transfers belief through lived testimony, and why the ethic of service is the engine of scale. This is education as community-building: each one, teach one; each one, reach many. If you’ve ever wondered whether helping one student makes a difference, you’ll leave with both the story and the stats to say yes with confidence.

Join us, share this with someone who needs the push, and be part of the ripple—subscribe, rate, and leave a review so more people can find their way to opportunity.

To learn more about NEED visit:
https://www.NEEDLD.org
NEED
429 Fourth Avenue, 20th FL, Suite 2000
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
412-566-2760



SPEAKER_00:

Welcome to the Mead Podcast, highlighting students, partners, and advocates. Presented by me and hosted by Dr. Marcia Sturtevant, President and CEO, this series highlights the impact of mentoring, philanthropy, and collaborative partnerships that empower students' triumphant entry into and progression through higher education. Whether you're applying for scholarships or supporting the mission, you'll find insights that inform, inspire, and empower.

SPEAKER_02:

One scholarship, one mentor, one opportunity. In this episode, we explore how supporting a single student can transform families, communities, and futures. Welcome back, everyone. I am Millie M, co-host and producer, back in the studio with Dr. Marcia Sturdivant, president and CEO of NEEM. How's it going? Yeah, I'm good. How are you? I'm doing well. I'm so glad to be back with you, Dr. Sturtevant. Let's talk about the ripple supporting one student.

SPEAKER_01:

Okay. Well, in 1963, that's exactly what happened. I need started with a few students, and once they succeeded in their college quest, it just had a ripple effect. Students are our biggest advertisement. They're our biggest ambassadors. That many times, kids, you know, at that age, you know, your high school, in the middle of adolescence, where you think you're the only one, that your experience is so unique that challenges are insurmountable, that you're the you're different than everyone else. And you know, that's it's a reality, it's a part of growing up in the developmental process of teenagers. But we try to help them understand that no, you're not alone, you're not the only one, how we've had our own experiences. And when students come out and advertise what they've done, which we use a lot of our students as speakers, you know, on behalf of me. And one event I know that has a profound impact of translating all of that down to someone else or transferring the experience is our annual scholarship dinner, which brings a little over 600 people together to honor students who are receiving scholarships from me, and they tell their story. We generally have someone who tells their story, and I can highlight one gentleman who is now working as our liaison, our alumni liaison, where he didn't quite know what he wanted to do while he was in Skype high school and he was ending his high school career. Very nice young man, didn't have any real heavy duty problems and you know personally, but had some challenges around the community that he lived in, also around his direction that he wanted to go. But one day his mother told him, Well, you have to figure out something. And he did make a decision to come and talk to one of our advisors, our college advisors. And he ended up really connecting with what our mission was. Well, long story short, he graduated high school, went on to Morehouse College, graduated with honors, later went on to Georgia State University, and is now an attorney. And he he credits his success with, of course, his very strong family, but also the support that he didn't quite have while he was in school. When you have mentorship that looks like you, mentorship that can share their story, and that that story mirrors yours, and then also mentorship that motivates you, that tells you you are brilliant. You can do anything that you want. Good things happen. And that's what happened to that one student. And right now, he, like I said, he's our liaison for all of our alum. And he goes out and does speaking engagements, he does things on social media and Zoom and so on, telling his story to encourage others to enter the fold. But he's not the only one. We have over 48,000 along, and they are located, they reside now in just about every one of the 50 states in the United States, and they tell their story. And so now there's a network where someone will call or answer something on our website or ask something on our website. Hey, someone, you know, so-and-so told me about how they helped them when they were in high school. And that's how we transferred that. Our own alums are those that help continue the legacy, continue the story, and bring in other ambassadors. And we're just so appreciative of what we've been able to do, but even more proud and appreciative of students who haven't forgotten that we were there to help them.

SPEAKER_02:

Each one, each one, and those.

SPEAKER_01:

I'm a former need. We reciprocate. And of course, you know, in my position now, I'm in a position to tell my story to others and continue, continue the work of me.

SPEAKER_02:

So it sounds like each one, teach one, and then those messages are spread out, and that's how one student can have a ripple effect throughout the entire country. So what metrics or outcomes does need to have to measure long-term impact? Are you able to hear me?

SPEAKER_01:

No. Now I can.

SPEAKER_02:

Now you can. All right. So what metrics or outcomes does need attract to measure long-term impact?

SPEAKER_01:

Oh, that's a great question. We had a data scientist look at that very question that you're talking about because data will inform practice, you know, empirically inform practice. And what we found out was that when you compare socioeconomic status indicators, lifestyles, health, and wellness, need alum outperform their peers that didn't receive our services. Okay. So when you compare them to the general African American public, need students from all over the country or better live better lifestyles, I should say, in terms of occupational achievement, social outcomes, health and wellness, and so on. And that was just alarming, wonderfully so, but alarming. Uh, because when you have those protective barriers, that clearly that would make sense that you would do better if you're gainfully employed and employed in occupations that command, say, higher wages and higher social positions. We also found that many of our students are alum former alum, give back. Yes, that they are involved in uh either voluntarily or in professions that serve the community. They have high levels of the belief that they should give back and be of service to their communities. Now it's interesting that when we compared the need a lot to the general African-American population, we also did a comparison to white populations. And when we compare that, the gap between wealth, education, and achievement was reduced. That while we're clearly not at parity, but that gap was reduced significantly. And I think that that certainly sells the story about the value of education because that's what we do. You know, all of our alums are college educated, graduated students, and the value of education clearly is indicated when you look at life outcomes, that you're just better off, so to speak, than those who did not have the same opportunity. And I know a lot of people say, well, you don't need college. I our data show otherwise, that clearly there is a benefit to obtaining a college degree. And our alam are represented in all professions, you know, from teachers, social service workers, attorneys, judges, mayors, I mean, really high-achiev individuals. But the idea that parently is instilled is that I have to be of service now, I'm committed to be of service to our community. And that's something we're very, very proud of.

SPEAKER_02:

As you should, as you should. So I believe you've already answered this question, but one last note what would you say to someone who wonders if helping just one student really makes a difference?

SPEAKER_01:

Well, that's one less student that maybe it's not positioning or would end up in a net in the negative outcomes. And it's one student at a time. We have, like I said, 48,000, 50,000 students, but one student can make the difference because that student will be able to better take care of their themselves, their families, and it's a community-wide approach. And don't stop, don't believe that that one student doesn't make does not make a difference. It clearly does. And that's what we're about community building and making not just individuals, but the community at large and the nation at large in better positions to achieve.

SPEAKER_02:

Thank you for that inspiring perspective, Dr. Sturdivant. We'll catch up next time to continue highlighting the power of education.

SPEAKER_00:

Thank you for listening to the Need Podcast. To apply for scholarships, access support, or learn how you or your organization can get involved, visit www.needld.org. Email needph at gmail.com or call 412 566 2760. Unlocking the power of education for students, families, and the future of our region.