PepsiCo Foundation Uplift Scholarship Program

pepsico uplift logoThe Uplift Scholarship program is a partnership between Delgado Community College and The PepsiCo Foundation to address education inequalities facing the African American and Hispanic populations. Scholarships awarded to qualifying students help offset tuition and other costs. The scholarship program offers academic and technical training courses to help students complete their education and earn jobs in high-growth, high-demand fields.

Student Testimonials

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Lillie Russ
I came to Delgado January 2022. Initially I was here to get my daughter registered for school. However, I became a student myself. I have had a full life culminating in being here at Delgado. I have been homeless and struggled with substances. I am 61 years young. I discovered that am a lot smarter than I anticipated. I have a 3.7GPA. l am on the Dean's List and a member of Phi Theta Kappa. Delgado Community College gave me a new start and a new life. 


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Katherinne Varela
I was born in in Guatemala, but I have been living in Louisiana since I was nine years old. Going through the pandemic inspired me to make a change in my career. I am working for a small company in the benefits department and would like to expand my knowledge and learn more about HR.


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LaToya Lewis
LaToya is a New Orleans native who moved her family to the Northshore over three years ago. She has three grown children, one of whom also attends Delgado and is a member of the Delgado men's basketball team. Her youngest will graduate high school in 2024. LaToya also has three grandchildren. LaToya has received her real estate certificate and is working toward her degree in business management and human resources. LaToya plans to then transfer to a four-year college to earn a bachelor's in business. 


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Kiana Calloway
Kiana is a leader / artist / abolitionist currently curating projects through an arts and advocacy lens; depicting narratives as the closest tool to systems change addressing local, state, and federal issues of importance to improve lives, the community, and the environment. He is also a re-entry navigator, behavioral health technician, and mentor for young men returning home from incarceration. As Kiana travels across the country being creative with his camara, he believes freight exchange can boost every community by providing resources and support. Thanks to PepsiCo for the support to help develop a smarter, cleaner, more equitable world.


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Dontrell Bennett

As a graduate of Archbishop Rummel High School, Dontrell excelled in playing football as well as academics, earning a scholarship to the University of Loyola New Orleans and showcasing his commitment to excellence. After high school, Dontrell joined the Army National Guard. After eight years of service, he achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant with a deployment serving in Syria as part of the mission Operation Inherent Resolve. Alongside his military service, he pursued a degree in avionics and currently works as a stationary engineer for the New Orleans Aviation Board. Dontrell’s thirst for new challenges and recognition of the shift of the world in tech and automation has led him to pursue a major in computer information technology with a concentration in security assurance at Delgado. 


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Elsy Marie Pena-Jiminian

Elsy Marie Pena-Jiminian is 21 years old. She is a Dominican, born in Puerto Rico, and raised in LaPlace, La. Elsy has always struggled to pay for school, which is why she switched to Delgado, which is more convenient for her financially.

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Robert Burton
I am native of New Orleans. My alma mater is L.E. Rabouin High School. I am a father of three—two kings and one princess. My major is computer science with a concentration in information security at Delgado Community College. I am currently self-employed as co-owner of Elite Signs and owner of Complete Network and Tech Solutions. My personal goal is to be the first male to graduate from college in my family. I am currently living my professional goal. I plan to grow and become more knowledgeable as I utilize skills I've learned in college to help grow rny current businesses and hopefully give me an entry level position in the IT field upon graduating.


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Collin Hernandez
I was born in Georgia and have been living in New Orleans all my life. I am a 2018 graduate of Helen Cox High School. Since then I've done various amounts of things from picking up my hobby of skateboarding and apprenticeship woodworking. Some of my goals are to graduate and start a business. I am excited to be a part of the PepsiCo Foundation Uplift Scholarship Program.


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Kellie Dauphiney
Kellie is a New Iberia, Louisiana native currently seeking her associate degree at Delgado Community College in business management with a concentration in logistics. She obtained her Associate of Applied Science degree from South Louisiana Community College in diesel powered equipment technology. Kellie is a devoted mother to her son, an active volunteer within her church and community, and a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success and Phi Theta Kappa national honor society. In her down time, Kellie enjoys playing flag football, soccer, softball, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. 


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Enjoyli Brooks
I am 42 years old and a mother of three. I've been employed at Home Depot for 22 years. I enrolled at Delgado in the logistics program. I enjoy reading, traveling, and cooking.


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Monterial Wise
I am a 27-year-old born and raised New Orleans native and father of two (a daughter and a son) with a thirst for knowledge and opportunity. Even at a young age growing up in a single-parent household in uptown New Orleans, I knew there had to be more to life than what I was experiencing, and I always had a love and interest for computers. To this end, I joined the Louisiana National Guard at the age of 17, shortly after the birth of my first child. After eight years of enlistment, I decided to use my military benefits to pursue my passion. I enrolled at Delgado Community College in the information assurance program specializing in cybersecurity. I will then pursue my bachelor's in computer science at LSU. My interest in technology began at the age of six. I spent countless hours on my mother's old Dell computer running WindowsXP, a rare opportunity for an African American kid in the 90s. Upon realizing how vulnerable these systems were in my early teens, I realized the two most precious things to users are privacy and personal data. For these reasons, I decided pursuing cyber security would be the perfect opportunity to work in a field where I am passionate about the work and get a sense of fulfillment by knowing I am helping others. 


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Kelly Price
I am a housewife, mother, grandmother, Sunday school teacher, customer service rep and a retired logistics management specialist with more than 20 years of experience in military logistics management. I have worked in combat supply support for maintenance, material control, demand processing, pick up and delivery, equipment management, retail sales, receiving, stock control, weapons management, mobility management, inventory management, storage and issue, transportation, project management, budget projection, scheduling, and document control. I have excellent analytical and problem solving skills learned while serving in the Air Force. I have worked as a customer support analyst on the Space and Warfare Systems Center Helpdesk for more than nine years and as a supervisor with more than two years experience as a Tier 1 and Tier 2 Customer Support Analyst on the Marine Corp Global Supply Support Helpdesk. There has been a seven year gap since I have worked for the government or in the logistics field. So, I decided to dust off the cobwebs of life and slowly ease myself back into supply by applying for admission at Delgado and taking the logistics course. My goal is to gain my certification then attain a bachelor's, possibly a master's and Ph.D., in logistics and to gain more experience and knowledge in supply regarding the civilian sector and focus on transportation management, supply chain management from a logistics operations and business ownership standpoint. I figure, I'm still alive and I don't want to have any regrets personally nor professionally. I might as well work in a career field I love rather than continuing to work in career fields that don't bring me joy, peace, or satisfaction. I am willing and eager to learn new technologies that will improve my skills and desire to get the right product, at the right quantity, in the right condition, to the right place at the right time, to the right customer at the right price. 


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Rene Harden
I am 23 years old, born and raised in New Orleans. This is my first time seeking a degree from Delgado. However, I've been enrolled as a dual enrollment student while in high school at Warren Easton. I attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette commencing in the Fall 2019. Since returning home, I've re­-enrolled at Delgado to further my education. It has been a match made in heaven. Everyone—my instructors, advisors, college coaches and the Financial Aid Office—has made sure I have what I need to be a successful student. I plan to use all knowledge gained from this program to be a well-rounded individual, to build and prosper, and to serve the community and to help sustain and grow it just as it has helped me over the years. 


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Chelsea Lee
I am an graduate of the University of New Orleans and currently a student at Delgado Community College. At UNO, I received a bachelor's degree in studio art (with a digital design concentration), and right now, I'm working to get certified in web design. While I was attending UNO, I was introduced to UX (user experience) design. Recently, I got accepted to a game camp hosted by Xbox, which will give me the opportunity to expand my knowledge on UX research. My goal is to become a UX engineer, because not only I use my digital design skills, but I can also use my front-end developing skills. I am also open to web designing or a front-end developing opportunities. 


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Rani Ally
I'm 23 years old and a graduate of Science and Mathematics High. I love to have fun and spend time with family and friends. My goal for school is to get my degree in computer science and then hopefully get a job in my field. I want to go into graphic design and make websites for people. I am currently working on two websites and would like to have more clients in the future. 


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Melvin Dobard

I was born in 1991 in New Orleans to Linda Dobard, a single hard-working mother of four. I attended Oretha Castle Haley Elementary school before moving to Atlanta because of hurricane Katrina. Upon returning to New Orleans post-Katrina, I attended high school. After graduating high school and having my own kids, I realized life was no longer about me but leading by example for my kids and teaching them knowledge is power. Getting my degree helps make that transition much easier.

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Andronique Frank
A New Orleans native and a U.S. Navy veteran, Andronique is pursuing a new career through Delgado Community College's Web Design Program. While her goal is to become a web designer, she also wants to take those skills and use them for web comic creation and video game development.


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Dionne Coston
I am a 53-year-old single mom of an 18-year-old. I attended SUNO right after high school and now Delgado Community College is my choice. I am pursuing a career in Computer Information Technology with a concentration in Cybersecurity and Web Design. I love Delgado Community College. This is a great experience!


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Christopher Holloway
Christopher loves playing basketball and video games when time allows. He is very quiet yet observant, kind, and hardworking. After receiving a degree from Delgado, he plans to enroll at Southeastern University and major in Computer Network Technology. In the meantime, Christopher is looking for opportunities to get hands on experience in the computer field. 


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Shavonna Cross
I currently work as a supply chain technician at Ochsner Medical Center. I have been doing this for the past seven years. I decided to enroll in the logistics program to further my career. I am a mother whose 8-year-old son also takes an interest in logistics, so when I am doing an assignment, he's right there with me learning.


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Sebastian Masion
Born in Louisiana, Sebastiain enjoys eating New Orleans cuisine as well as spending time enjoying the bayou with friends. Currently working in IT, he loves learning about technology and helping people. He also enjoys cooking and meeting new people. 


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Laaiq Shaheer
I am 19 and an early graduate of Edna Karr High School. In a world of many moving variables, I'm a constant. I'm a person who is very motivated and passionate about the things I do and I like to learn from people I come into contact with. I am open to new ideas, ways of doing things, and opinions. With work I feel as if I can do anything and be great at anything. Once I've learned a job or trained, I become proficient at it and am fluid in its operation. l'm able to sit back and observe, and repeat the step to be successful. 


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Dejah Gaulden
Dejah works as a teacher at Trinity Episcopal School. I also am currently studying at Delgado to continue my education as a teacher and I am double majoring in Computer Information Technology with a concentration in Information Assurance. My hobbies are reading comic books and I love movies, especially ones with zombies! 


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Darlene Hunter
I am 61 years old and a native of New Orleans, born and raised. I graduated from Alcee Fortier Senior High School in 1978. I then attended Southern University here in New Orleans for a while, but unfortunately I did not graduate. I have three kids--two sons and a daughter. I have five grand kids that I enjoy spending time with. I used to run track for Harrell Park. I love football and baseball. I can pretty much do anything I put my heart in. I love to cook, sew, and work in my garden. I have been working at UPS for almost 15 years. I wanted to educate myself more for my job, so here I am majoring in Management Logistics. Hopefully I'll be 
graduating soon. 


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Latoyia Lewis
Born and raised in New Orleans, Latoyia graduated from Frederick A. Douglass High School and is now currently a student enrolled at Delgado Community College pursuing a Certificate of Technical Studies. In her studies, Latoyia is focusing on gaining and perfecting core skills and knowledge necessary for a career in web design and development. Latoyia has one son and a grandson. She is a long-term employee of Tulane Medical Center and a highly motivated and dedicated employee to any job or assignment her name is attached to. Latoyia's hobbies include frequent flights, family time, and walks in the park. 


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Raven Sipp
I am 25 years old and persuing a college education. I grew up in Houma, Louisiana with my single mother. I have been in college since I was 18 years old. At first I did not have a clue of what I wanted to do, but since I came to Delgado, I got a clear idea of why I like computers. There are times where I want to give up, but I know I need to keep pushing myself if I want to do better. After I get my associate degree at Delgado , I would like to get a bachelor's in computer science. I want to push myself as much as I can. I would like to thank Delgado so much for this opportunity. 


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Dylon Cassine
I am 23 years old and studying Computer Information Technology with a concentration in Information Security. I was born in New Orleans and I'm an only child. I come from a very close-knit family. My mom, dad, grandmother, and my aunt all had a part in raising me. My family means everything to me. I am here right now because I want to make them proud of me. I wish my grandmother and my dad could see the man I have become. I am an avid basketball and football fan. My favorite teams in both sports are the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans. I also enjoy gaming. My long-term goals are to graduate college, get a well-paying job, and maybe get married. I also want to improve myself as a person. I try to treat people the way I want to be treated. 

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Malik Lofton
I am a 22-year-old sophomore enrolled in Business and Management with a concentration in Entrepreneurship. A New Orleans native, I am interested in marketing and advertising. I plan on using my skills not only to further my education but to improve my Digital Art Studio business, through which I plan to produce videos for businesses to purchase and use for their advising, marketing, and business needs. 


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Dinary Cuellar-Alvarez
I am 18 years old and a graduate of Kenner Discovery Health Sciences Academy. I am currently enrolled in Delgado as a Computer Information Technology major, with a concentration in Programmer/Analyst. After obtaining my associate degree, I plan on transferring to a 4-year institute to obtain a bachelor's in Computer Science. I am so grateful for this opportunity and will continue to work toward becoming a software developer! 


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Kenneth Perkins
I am a graduate of St. Augustine High School, where I was an honor student and basketball player. During a 20-year career in operations management, I aquired start up and turn around business experience. I opened over 100 locations and managed over 150 employees in three states simultaneously.


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LaTerrica Zeringue
I graduated from Destrehan High School in 1994 with a dream of becoming a teacher. I attended Southern University until 1996 and I had to leave to help my family. I married the man of my dreams in December 1998, Done II Zeringue Sr. He was a solider in the Army and we traveled the world together. We have four wonderful children--Asia, Danielle, Done II Jr. and Alyssa. We returned home in 2005 and I returned to the workforce in 2006. I was employed at JC Penney in Lakeside Mall for 16 years. I have experienced every part of the retail world and walked away in 2020 to care for an ill family member. I returned to school in 2019 and will graduate with an associate degree in business with a concentration in human resources. I am beyond grateful to be a recipient of the PepsiCo scholarship. 


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Skylar Honore
My name is Skylar Honore. I am 20 years old. I love to play video games and watch movies. My favorite movies as a child were the transformer movies. I believe my love for videos and those type of movies was instrumental in my decision to major in Computer Information Technology with a concentration in Programmer/Analyst. In addition, I always loved watching technology YouTubers, which also guided my career decision. I have two dogs named Lilly and Piggy, both are Jack Russell Terriers and are high energy dogs that keep me on my toes. 


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Cristian Jiron
I am a returning student wanting to learn a new skill to enter an entirely different field. I am currently in the Delgado Computer Information Technology program, concentrating in Programming/Analyst. Born in Seattle, I lived in New Orleans most of my life. My future goal after completing my schooling is to work in the data or cybersecurity field. 


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Tommy Munoz
My name is Tommy Munoz. I'm 20 years old, and I was born in New Orleans. My parents came from Nicaragua and moved here to search for better opportunities for each other, me, and my two big brothers. I want to major in computer science. I like to study the history of personal computers and learn how technology evolves and improves overtime. One of my biggest passions is learning how video games are made and how video game companies approach their programming for different game consoles with completely different architecture. 


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Derrick Howard
I am a 45-year-old father of two boys and a girl. Cooking is my current profession. I am persuing a degree in Computer Information Technology with a concentration in Information Security Assurance, because working in the IT field is a new goal I wish to accomplish. Computer Technology is the way of the future! 


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O'Bricc Julian
My name is O'Bricc Julian, a native of New Orleans. I attend Delgado Community College. My major is Logistics Technology. One of my goals is to manage inventory for a big company. 


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Clarice Wilson
My name is Clarice Wilson. I am from New Orleans and love attending Delgado Community College. My major is Logistics Technology. My goal is to start a small logistics company in New Orleans. 


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Zulvin Michael
My name is Zulvin Michael, hailing from the small town of New Sarpy, LA. I am a sophomore student at Delgado Community College in New Orleans, majoring in Computer Information Technology. 


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Donjana Fisher
My name is Donjana Fisher. I am a Computer Information Technology major with a concentration in Web Design. I was born and raised in New Orleans. I am the mother of a handsome five-year-old boy. I love to read, learn, and code. I enjoy going to school and earning my degree. I know that earning this degree will provide a better life for me and my son. Thank you for taking the time to read my bio and getting to know more about me and learning who I am. 


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Jada Heard
Born and raised in New Orleans, I am studying business and management. This is currently my third semester here at Delgado. After I get my associate degree, I will transfer to a 4-year college to get a bachelor's degree. I plan to use my degree to open my own business in the beauty or fashion industry. I enjoy watching sports like football and basketball, shopping, and binge watching a good series on Netflix. Thank you to Delgado and PepsiCo for awarding me this scholarship! 

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Connie McLaurin-Daniels
Mrs. Daniels is a new emerging entrepreneur that is embarking upon a new path.  She is now directing her attention to the business community where she may develop and grow her talents and gifts so she may be more effective in serving others. Mrs. Daniels has enrolled in Delgado Community College; there she will be equipped with the tools to make this goal and journey fulfilled.


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Kimberly Charles
Kimberly is from the small town of Baldwin, Louisiana. She is currently a Cloud Computing Major at Delgado Community College and working in accounting at a chemical company. Also, Kimberly has her very own catering business called "Sugar Pie’s Soul Food". After graduation Kimberly plans to continue her education and earn her bachelor’s degree to one day become a cloud engineer.


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Rhonda Hemphill
Rhonda has two adult daughters and one daughter that is graduating high school in May. Rhonda and her husband (who recently retired from the Army) share an 18 month old grandson that they truly adore. She is pursuing a career as a website designer and is excited about earning her certificate this Spring!


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Sky Holmes
Sky Holmes is a New Orleans native and a sophomore at Delgado Community College. Her major is Business & Management: Entrepreneurship/Small Business. Sky plans to transfer to a 4-year college to earn her bachelor's degree.


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Floyd Brown
Floyd is studying Business and Management at Delgado Community College with a Concertation in Logistics Management. He is a 1987 graduate of Warren Easton Fundamental Senior High School in New Orleans and a lifelong resident of the 7TH Ward of New Orleans. Floyd is a 12 year employee with Ochsner Health System and works in security department and also in the Material Management (Supply Chain) department. He will graduate in May with an AAS Degree in Logistics Management. 


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Sammie Calvin
Sammie Calvin is 37 years old and born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. He's married with four beautiful kids. Sammie's major at Delgado is business management. He chose this major because he and his wife own a catering service called One Lady Catering. Sammie's wife has a degree in Culinary Arts and he decided to major in business to help run a more professional and profitable business.