Scholar Success Story: Kevin Talley

 

Nearly a decade ago, Kevin Talley graduated from the Ursuline Sisters Mission Scholars Program.

We connected with him recently to discuss the program’s impact on his life.

Kevin resides in Pittsburgh with his family, where he owns two businesses and is a recruiter for UPMC.

He began his relationship with the Ursuline Sisters under a program with Sister Jerome Corcoran. When he was a social work student at Youngstown State University, he took Sister Nancy Dawson for World Religions and learned about our Scholars Program.

The demands of school and working full time were difficult, in addition to having experienced homelessness and other challenges. He wasn’t sure he was the best candidate for the Scholars program, but Sister Nancy (left, with Sister Jerome) encouraged him to take a chance.

“I entered the program with a 1.3 GPA but graduated with a 3.3 GPA,” he says.  As a first-generation student, “the program benefited my life, made my life easier.” It allowed him to work less and focus more on being a student.

He has advice for other non-traditional students juggling a full plate: “Hang around people who are like-minded, who get A’s and B’s. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Have fun but also keep an eye on your degree.”

One day, Kevin said, he’d like to be able to donate to the program himself to honor the memory of Sister Jerome, who “saw young people with bright futures and a love for learning very early on.”