Empowering Our Scholars and Honoring Our Pillars

I’m a junior majoring in mass communications with a concentration in broadcast news at USF. I received a scholarship from the Black Leadership Network during my first semester. I love the support and guidance I receive from my BLN mentors and peers.

Kédrine Gayle is a senior at the University of South Florida in Tampa, FL. She is a public health major with a minor in sociology. She currently holds the title of Miss USF 2021-2022 and serves as a USF Ambassador, USF Black Leadership Network scholar, Intercultural Student Leadership Conference Co-Chair, PRO & Graphic Designer for the Jamaican Alliance Movement and more. Kédrine is highly involved in community service as she deems it a big part of her mental health. She currently serves as the Community Service Chair for the USF Ambassadors program and is a member of Project Downtown Tampa (feeding the homeless). Outside of USF, Kédrine serves as a third grade mathematics tutor for the Caribbean Community Association and the Outreach Director for JGL Ministries international. In the summer of 2019, Kédrine launched "SHE Speaks," a movement aimed at amplifying the voices of women through empowerment, community building, purpose activation, and creating a safe platform for women of all ages to share their testimonies. The movement has managed to reach over 100 women and continues to have various virtual gatherings throughout the year. In the future, Kédrine hopes to become a nurse practitioner and walk in her Divine calling to advocate for various underserved communities. Through BLN, Kédrine has found a home away from home and a reason to continue striving for her dreams. She says that the support that she receives from BLN goes way beyond her academics. From small lunch meetings to professional development workshops, Kédrine is forever grateful and treasures the effort that BLN has put into making her a holistic world changer.

Amanda Lafleur is a third-year political science major from Fort Lauderdale, FL. She currently serves as secretary of Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity and internal chair for minorities in Pre-Law. Amanda is the recipient of the BLN/The Frazier Family Scholarship.

Goziem Nwafor is a third-year information technology major, originally from Nigeria. He is the community service chair for the Theta Gamma Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
In addition to this role, he serves as senator in the USF Student Government, a USF Ambassador and an active member of the USF Section of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Goziem is the recipient of the BLN/Apartments for Bulls Scholarship by iLS Network.

Quincy Dorneval is a civil engineering major from Miami, FL, and is looking forward to graduating in spring 2022. He decided to attend USF because it has “one of the top engineering departments in the nation." Quincy is the recipient of the BLN/Salley Family Inspiring Scholarship.

It's my birthday and there's no better gift to me, and the USF community, than your support during Giving Week! Thanks to alumni and donors like you, our students are making an impact on campus and in the community. Your gift provides students in need with a chance to make a difference, and experience life at USF to the fullest! Please make a gift of any size, and spread the word. We are counting on you to ensure students in need are receiving financial support. Go Bulls!