Our Mission

The mission of The Thirsty Mind Scholarship Foundation is to promote the importance of education, self-awareness, and financial literacy for young African-American women that will positively assist in them making informed decisions to thrive academically and socially in their communities.

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Our Goals

1. To provide academic scholarships to young African American women entering as full-time freshmen to an accredited two- or four-year college or university.

 

2. To assist in the development and awareness that will create a dedicated passion for these young women to be successful students and leaders.

 

3. To create a deep understanding of the importance of having a healthy relationship with money and knowledge of financing their higher education.

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Who We Are

LaShawn R. Murray is a native of Pittsburgh, PA. and has always wanted to give back to her community. She is a graduate of Penn Hills Senior High School and went on to pursue her post secondary education at Morgan State University located in Baltimore, MD where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Speech Communication in 2008. While in high school and college LaShawn was always actively involved in extracurricular activities and community-based organizations. Being actively involved in the community has always been one of her passions. While enrolled in Morgan State University, LaShawn was a mentor to young Baltimore City middle school girls in various after school programs, held numerous executive board positions in the Morgan State University Section of The National Council of Negro Women, Inc. , and was initiated into the The Alpha Delta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. It was during her college years that her passion for helping others evolved and she realized the importance of supporting the communities you are rooted in.

 

After graduating from college LaShawn lived in the D.C., Maryland, Virginia (DMV) area pursuing a successful career in management with a well known retail pharmacy. Although she was successful she was not passionate about her everyday work. In 2015, bogged down by the weight of student loan repayments and unhappiness LaShawn decided to move back to Pittsburgh and began a new life in the city that she was born and raised. It was during this transition that LaShawn began to explore her passion and reflect upon what it is that truly drives her and makes her happy. Being gone from Pittsburgh since graduating high school LaShawn realized that the city she once knew was so much different now moving back as a full fledged adult. Exploring the city was exciting and disappointing at the same time. While the city had so much to offer it seemed as though she did not see many people who looked like her taking advantage of the growing restaurant scene, the many festivals, and free events. This was disheartening. She began to think, "do people not know about these things, do we not seek out the information, or do we not even know we are "allowed" to participate?" 

 

LaShawn believes that life is all about exposing yourself to something different and being comfortable enough with yourself to step out of your comfort zone. Do not be afraid of what you are passionate about, do what it is that you desire to do, and explore!

 

As an inquisitive child and adult she has always been a knowledge seeking individual, with a vivid imagination and a visionary mindset. Coming from a lineage of strong Black women that she looks up to, LaShawn has always wanted to know what was out there and how she can be influential to another individual and serve. Thinking back to how her evolution in the Penn Hills School District all started it was very important to her to create this scholarship foundation where it all began more specifically with young Black women in mind. The message that she wants to instill is that continuing your postsecondary education in some way is important as long as you do it for you and focus on what you are passionate about, no matter what it may be, as long as you are aware of who you are and are comfortable. With a vision, a plan and an open mind you will be unstoppable! This is how the Thirsty Mind Scholarship Foundation was born.