Turning passion into purpose. “Serving my community is something I’ve always been wholeheartedly committed to,” Champion High School senior Nadiya Patrick shares. When she was given the opportunity to participate in the YWCA’s Young Women with Bright Futures leadership program, she dove into it headfirst, learning everything she could to help fuel her passion of supporting others… and it seems her dedication to the cause was noticed. Patrick’s work with the program won her a second-place scholarship. “I was so surprised to hear my name called [for the second-place scholarship],” Patrick says. “I am passionate about serving my community, and it is such an accomplishment to be recognized in this way.”
The YWCA Young Women with Bright Futures Awards Program was established in 1994 to provide an opportunity for community recognition of outstanding young women who are high school seniors. Honorees are selected by school administrators based on their leadership, creative, academic, and volunteer traits.
On Saturday, March 29, 2025, the organization honored this year’s young women participants during a special award ceremony. Patrick’s second-place award earns her an $8,000 scholarship provided by the Thomases Family Endowment and the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation. She also won the program’s essay contest and received a $100 award. And an additional $500 scholarship was provided to her, and all program honorees, by Denise DeBartolo-York. Patrick is one of more than twenty young women from schools across Mahoning and Trumbull counties nominated for the honor. “It is truly an honor to be selected as Champion High School’s one nominee for this award,” Patrick says. “There are so many deserving individuals, I’m grateful.”
As part of the program, the young women participate in three days of leadership seminars where they hear from guest speakers, work to compose essays on why they should be selected for the top scholarship award, and complete a collaborative community service project, where this year hygiene products were collected for those who receive assistance from the YWCA. “Working alongside these women and coming together to support one cause was amazing,” Patrick says of the effort.
In addition to her work with the Young Women with Bright Futures program, Patrick is involved in the National Honor Society at Champion High School and Interact Club, where this year she organized a Halloween costume drive for younger children. Following graduation, she plans to attend the University of Mount Union and pursue a major in early childhood education. She hopes to continue her passion of serving the community by becoming an elementary school teacher.
Congratulations Nadiya!