I am humbled by the funding as well as the community of Black women peers, role models and mentors that Play Like a Girl Scholars will afford me at this critical time in my life. I look forward to the many skills, life lessons and friendships that will come with this opportunity.

I am beyond grateful to be included among the other amazing young women in the 2023 Class of Play Like a Girl Scholars. It feels amazing to have this boost in confidence and support as I continue my educational journey toward a STEM career.

I appreciate the work Play Like a Girl does to prepare young women like me to be confident and ready to compete in male-dominated fields like STEM. I am honored to have this opportunity and look forward to paying it forward to girls in my community who see me as a role model.

I am honored to have been named a 2023 Play Like a Girl Scholar. This opportunity will reduce financial barriers to me reaching my college and career goals while also providing me with the mentorship I need and affording me the opportunity to be a role model for young girls.

Cori Shipman is a freshman Biology Pre-Medicine major at Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans. She loves anatomy and lab dissections, as well as sports. Cori will further develop her skills as an athletes while playing varsity volleyball and completing an extremely rigorous academic program at Xavier. Cori aspires to turn her love of science into a thriving career as a pediatrician.

Me’lyssa Moore is a senior majoring in social work and computer science at Alabama A&M University. A strong believer in the power of role models for girls in technology, Me’lyssa plans to leverage her knowledge and skills in both fields to help children from underserved communities across her home state of Alabama.

Hannah Niara Selders is a rising sophomore at Hampton University, where she is completing the five-year Master of Business Administration program. Hannah is talented a violinist in the University Orchestra, leads her class executive council, and manages an online handcrafted jewelry business. Upon graduation, Hannah hopes to launch a nonprofit makerspace for young artists in her hometown of Dallas, Texas.

Tiara Bradley is a graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana, now pursuing a medical degree at Meharry Medical College. She aspires to become a dermatologist. Tiara is committed to using her education and influence to help increase minority representation in medicine. Her other interests include skin cancer research and mentorship of other young aspiring physicians of color.

As a college junior and first-year pharmacy student at Xavier University of Louisiana, Gabrielle Edmonds-Andrews works as a chemistry drill instructor and participates in research focused on ionic liquids. In her spare time, Gabi enjoys playing golf and volunteering in the New Orleans and Nashville areas through Mobilization at Xavier 2.0 and LPGA Girls Golf. Her future ambitions after completing her Doctorate of Pharmacy degree include a career in community pharmacy within academia, a federally-qualified health center or the pharmaceutical industry.