The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation -
College Completion
Maphuti Setati: Dell Young Leader
Maphuti Setati, a Dell Young Leader from a small South African village, lost both his parents at a very young age. While living with his grandmother and helping to raise his younger brother, Maphuti worked hard to get a good education despite not having access to computer labs or libraries in primary school or high school. With the support of the Dell Young Leaders program, he became a first-generation university graduate and now works as a senior technical officer for a leading telecommunications company.
Denice Carpenter: Dell Scholar
Denice Carpenter, a Texas-native and single mother of two, didn’t allow the stigmas and setbacks of being a teen mom stop her from pursuing her education. After finishing high school, Denice received the support she needed to graduate from the Dell Scholars program and earn her degree in education from the University of Texas at Austin. Here, she shares her college story and tells us how her experience inspired her to become a teacher and provide support for other young parents in need.
Client
The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation
Role
Cam-Op (Denice)
Editor (Denice & Maphuti)
About
The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation (MSDF) has long committed itself to helping low-income and underserved students not only enter, but successfully complete college and come out the other side better prepared for employment. For first-generation students in particular the college experience can be a daunting, one filled with challenges they often aren’t prepared for: financial uncertainty, academic obstacles, emotional stressors, self-doubt, lack of a sense of community, and much more.
MSDF’s approach to helping these students has blossomed into a holistic offering that supports students throughout their entire college experience. With their two sister programs – the Dell Young Leaders, in South Africa, and The Dell Scholars, in the United States – the foundation has proven that all students, with the right support, can find their own path to success.
Two such stories of success are those of Denice Carpenter and Maphuti Setati, two students whose motivation to overcome life’s challenges has helped them strive for a better and brighter future.
You can learn more about MSDF’s mission to help students complete college here.