Homeless, abandoned teen bound for Harvard University

[Carmen11]

Originally Posted by SunnyKayak

18 year old Dawn Loggins of Lawndale, has an amazing story to tell. She has been homeless, abandoned by her parents, and called a high school dropout. But she didn't let those challenges stop her from living her dream of one day attending an Ivy League University.


read more with video here => Homeless, abandoned teen bound for Harvard University - WBTV 3 News, Weather, Sports, and Traffic for Charlotte, NC

This was on HLN News tonight. What a great story! This young lady is full of determination. I have no doubt she will fulfill all of her dreams. Already has a full scholarship to Harvard.

[Sundaydrive00]

Originally Posted by Carmen11

This was on HLN News tonight. What a great story! This young lady is full of determination. I have no doubt she will fulfill all of her dreams. Already has a full scholarship to Harvard.

Actually, she only received a partial scholarship to help pay for the almost $60,000 in tuition. I don't know how much of her tuition the scholarship will cover, but if she does end up going to Harvard she will also have to get (at least) a full time job to pay for the rest plus living expenses. Of course she will also qualify for financial aid and will be able to get loans and grants, but its still going to be a big expense.

[SunnyKayak]

Hoping now that it was on HLN that a philanthropist saw her story and can help her achieve her dreams with taking care of expenses.

For those unfamiliar with the city she from Lawndale it is in upper east corner of Cleveland County right by the corner of Lincoln County and Gaston County.

Maybe she will scan her name on the net one day and come across this thread and drop us a hello, I would love for her to do so.

[ex-burgher]

Here's a more detailed story about her:
Dawn Loggins | custodian, kids, dawn - The Star Online : The Newspaper of Cleveland County

[XcapefromNJ]

Thanks for posting this. (I was out of town when the story first came out so didn't see it) Great story! Harvard meets 100% of demonstrated financial need, so I would expect her to receive grants (not loans) to pay for all of her expenses. I got a big kick out of reading that "She makes a living as a custodian at Burns High school" I am not in any way a fan or supporter of Newt Gingrich, but he was so ridiculed when he suggested that students could be hired as school custodians, and here is an example.

[SunnyKayak]

Dawn graduates today from her Cleveland County High School. She stated she had a goal and she focus on it to keep her mind off other things. She already giving back too, by starting a non profit to help other struggling students.

“I want other people -- everyone -- to realize that you can achieve your dreams if you try,” she said.
Loggins has financial aid to cover tuition, room and board. Harvard has also committed to helping her find a job on campus when she arrives in the fall.


There is more about her life in this article with video -> Homeless Shelby teen accepted to Harvard set to graduate Thursday | www.wsoctv.com


Bless her heart, as you guys stated this is such a great story.