IUP freshman named Pittsburgh Promise Executive Scholar
Tayler Kirkland, like many women, loves babies. But Kirkland loves them so much, she wants to make it a profession delivering them.
“I’ve always liked biology or the human body and development, and I really want to be an obstetrician because I love babies,” Kirkland told the New Pittsburgh Courier. “It’s kind of hard to explain why I want to be that, but it’s always been one of my goals.”
The 2016 Pittsburgh CAPA graduate and current Indiana University of Pennsylvania freshman was recently named a Pittsburgh Promise Executive Scholar for Giant Eagle. She is featured on a billboard along Allegheny River Blvd.
The Executive Scholars program matches Promise scholars with Pittsburgh companies who have provided unprecedented support to the Promise. Among those companies are UPMC, American Eagle Outfitters, Highmark, Giant Eagle, PNC and BNY Mellon. The opportunity to be named among the scholars offers invaluable connections and relationships, which could serve as a pipeline for internships and eventual employment.
Executive Scholars of the Pittsburgh Promise are chosen by academic performance in high school with a 3.5 GPA or above, commitment to community, demonstrated leadership skills and dedication to education and their field of study, according to data provided by the Pittsburgh Promise. Forty-five students are chosen out of a field of hundreds.
Kirkland, 19, has volunteered at numerous area functions. She has assisted with gardening in Homewood, and partnered with Nabhi Christian Ministries on coat drives and other positive events.
“She spent many years working in the church’s outreach department, assisting children victimized or exposed to drugs, violence and other harsh environments, and volunteering at annual toys and coat drives for needy children,” said Jacque Fielder, executive director of Nabhi Christian Ministries. “Before Tayler went to college, she was a faithful member and volunteer at Nabhi Christian Ministries. Tayler has always been very serious and is a very mature and focused young adult.”
“Since I was 6 years old, my mom always told us to always give back,” Kirkland said. “When I’m doing the coat drive that I do annually, a lot of the kids come up to me and say thank you, or thank you for the toys.”
Kirkland, a psychology major with a minor in biology, said more people her age should volunteer their time. “There’s not a lot of stuff to do in Pittsburgh for teenagers and that’s how they get in trouble, so being a part of organizations or volunteering anywhere will help with curbing violence and getting kids off the street,” she said.
As a sophomore next fall, Kirkland will become a community assistant at IUP—also known as resident assistants in dormitories. In effect, she’s singing the same tune—helping other students, many who will be incoming freshmen, navigate the waters of college life. As a freshman this year, she experienced those same ups and downs. “It was kind of stressful but I got through it, the transition from high school to being on your own, doing everything on your own,” she said.
Kirkland’s advice to those graduating seniors heading to college in the fall: “I would look at organizations to get involved in, because once you have a lot of friends to help you out with school and stuff…just being a part of the community in college will help you out.”
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