Freshman Destiny Young is a young woman with a purpose.
Four days after starting classes at PBA, Young, a management major with a dance minor, can articulate what she wants to do when she graduates: open a dance studio. Or rather, dance studios, she adds.
“I would like to leave a legacy behind,” Young said.
Young, of Leesburg, Florida, is the youngest of three children and the niece of proud PBA alumna Victoria Rodriguez, who works at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. Young’s education is made possible in part through a scholarship from the Council of Independent Colleges in partnership with the UPS Foundation. The Florida Independent College Fund awarded the CIC/UPS scholarships to Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF) member schools.
“It means so much to me. It means everything,” Young said of the scholarship. “It was like a miracle from God that just came out of nowhere.” To the council and foundation, she added: “Thank you for giving me the scholarship and the opportunity to be here.”
Young, a graduate of Leesburg High School and former president of the school’s dance club, Orchesis, is taking eight courses in her first semester at PBA, including Introduction to Business and ballet. She was drawn to PBA by her aunt’s love for the school and the stellar reputation of PBA’s dance program, which now offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts.
Young said it’s easy to find her way around PBA’s campus, which is prettier than any of the other schools she’s visited. The people are friendly, too, she noted.
“Anywhere you go, someone will say ‘hi’ to you,” Young said.
About the Council of Independent Colleges
The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) is an association of 758 nonprofit independent colleges and universities, state-based councils of independent colleges, and other higher education affiliates, that works to support college and university leadership, advance institutional excellence, and enhance public understanding of independent higher education’s contributions to society. CIC is the major national organization that focuses on services to leaders of independent colleges and universities and state-based councils. CIC offers conferences, seminars, publications, and other programs and services that help institutions improve educational quality, administrative and financial performance, student outcomes, and institutional visibility. CIC also conducts the largest annual conferences of college and university presidents and of chief academic officers in the United States. Founded in 1956, CIC is headquartered at One Dupont Circle in Washington, DC. For more information, visit www.cic.edu.
About The UPS Foundation
Since its founding in 1907, UPS has built a legacy as a caring and responsible corporate citizen, supporting programs that provide long-term solutions to community needs. Founded in 1951, the UPS Foundation leads its global citizenship programs and is responsible for facilitating community involvement to local, national, and global communities. The foundation’s philanthropic approach centers on four focus areas: health & humanitarian relief, equity and economic empowerment, local engagement and planet protection. To UPS, giving means combining employees’ skills, passion and time with the company’s logistics expertise, transportation assets, and charitable donations to make a measurable difference in society.
