The Hallie Ladelle Scruggs Haiti Scholarship Fund

This quarter, we are grateful to share encouraging progress from the young women whose educational journeys you are helping make possible through the Hallie Scruggs Scholarship.

At Andrew Grene High School (AGHS), five current Hallie Scholars are continuing to excel academically and remain on track to graduate and pursue college in the coming years. AGHS provides a rigorous, college-preparatory education for young women and men in Haiti, and these students are following the path of determination and achievement set by earlier students now studying at The University of Fondwa.

That path is already visible.

The photo above shows six former AGHS students who are now studying at the University of Fondwa (UNIF).

• Three are in their second year.
• Three are first-year students.
  All six are in excellent academic standing.

At UNIF, these young women and men are preparing for careers in fields such as agronomy, business administration, and veterinary medicine — areas that are critical to strengthening rural communities and expanding opportunity across Haiti. Although they now receive university-level support through other scholarship programs, their success reflects the strong academic foundation and confidence they built during their years at AGHS.

Meanwhile, the next generation is moving forward. With five current AGHS students on track for college, the impact of this scholarship continues to grow year by year.

Hallie was just nine years old when her life was tragically cut short. This scholarship was created in her memory so that other young people might have the chance to learn, grow, and pursue their dreams. Her legacy lives on through the opportunities being created for these remarkable young women — and through the compassion and generosity of a community committed to honoring her life.

Hallie’s story is also shared in the documentary All the Empty Rooms, now available on Netflix.

Thank you for helping ensure that her memory continues to open doors and create hope for young women in Haiti.

Links:

• Read the University of Fondwa's latest Annual Report

Dear Friends,

This summer, five young girls from the Andrew Grene School — the inaugural recipients of the Hallie Ladelle Scruggs Scholarship Fund — each sat down to write a letter of thanks. Their words, simple and sincere, reveal not only gratitude but also courage and a growing sense of purpose.

Each of these five girls had just completed seventh grade when they wrote. Now, with the new school year underway, they have entered eighth grade — another step forward on the path your support has made possible. Through the Hallie Ladelle Scruggs Scholarship Fund, these girls will be able to complete their education at the Andrew Grene School and, one day, if they choose, continue their studies at the University of Fondwa (UNIF).

Their stories illuminate what this project is all about.

Their Voices

Danica, almost 13, described the joy of learning to use a computer for the first time and the comfort of a hot meal each day at school. She wrote, “Your support gives me strength. It helps me work hard and stay focused. I want to make you proud.”

Diana, who lives with her family in the Haitian Repatriated Village, thanked supporters for their “sacrifice” and “invaluable help,” promising to study harder so that “you will be proud of me.”

For Lavenal, who lives with her mother while caring for her father who suffers from diabetes, this opportunity has been life-changing. She dreams of becoming a psychologist. “Thanks to you,” she wrote, “I have the opportunity to continue my studies in good conditions and believe in my dream.”

Twelve-year-old Rosemine, from the village of Rapture, shared that she hopes to become a doctor one day. “You are a very important person in my life,” she wrote. “My family and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

And finally, Julien — who lost her father and lives with her mother and older siblings — expressed deep affection for those who have made her schooling possible: “I promise you today and forever to take my responsibilities, to work, to study, to succeed with my studies and become a great accountant. This is all thanks to you.”

At the Andrew Grene School, these girls are thriving in an environment designed to spark both intellect and imagination. The school’s entrepreneurship program invites students to design and launch small enterprises, learning budgeting, teamwork, and creative problem-solving. Through the leadership program, older students mentor younger ones and lead community service initiatives in Cité Soleil. The library cultivates a love of reading; the IT lab provides access to computers and digital literacy skills rare in Haiti; and the school canteen ensures that every child receives a hot daily meal — sometimes their only meal of the day.

This holistic education is preparing these five young women to succeed as future UNIF students if they so choose, where they can pursue degrees in fields such as agronomy, business management, and veterinary medicine — disciplines that directly equip graduates to return to their communities and help build a stronger, more self-reliant Haiti.

That vision of hope is extraordinary given the current reality. Across Haiti, widespread violence and insecurity have shuttered schools and displaced families. The United Nations recently reported that nearly one in four Haitian children is not in school — a staggering reminder of the odds these girls are overcoming each day simply by being in a classroom.

For me personally, reading their letters was profoundly moving. Though Hallie Ladelle Scruggs’s life was heartbreakingly brief, her name now lives on in a way that continues to nurture joy, opportunity, and learning. Through these girls — their laughter, their letters, their perseverance — Hallie’s spirit is helping to build Haiti’s future.

To keep this extraordinary story unfolding, we will need your continued partnership. Please consider renewing your support or making an additional gift to help keep these five girls — and those who will follow in their footsteps — in school. Every contribution, large or small, helps ensure that Hallie’s legacy continues to open doors for Haiti’s next generation of young women.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Anne Hastings

Vice President, Board of Directors | University of Fondwa USA