As a little girl with a passion for softball, Mya Allen dreamed of standing on a Division One collegiate field, playing the sport that would define her as an athlete. Thanks to her determination and the generous help of IECF donors, Mya was able to realize those dreams on the campus of Loyola Marymount University. She now plays D1 softball and is pursuing a psychology degree, aided by scholarship support from the Gloria Jean Memorial Scholarship and the D. Jain & S. Kapadia Foundation Fund at IECF.
College expenses can be a challenge for any family. With an older sister attending UC Irvine, Mya searched for ways to alleviate some of the financial strain on her parents that comes with having two children in college. She discovered the IECF scholarship portal, where she found awards for which she was eligible. The extra funds have allowed Mya to enjoy a meal plan, housing, and, of course, tuition support, giving her the freedom to focus on both academics and athletics.
Mya’s love for softball turned into a focus for the future when her travel softball coach introduced her to sports psychology. They explored mental training techniques, which helps players separate their identity from their performance on the field. Mya was captivated when she realized the impact that sports psychology can have not only on athletic success but on overall well-being. In addition to her psychology major, Mya plans to add a minor in health and human sciences, with the goal of becoming a psychologist or physical therapist.
“When I got the scholarships, I just felt so blessed and grateful that I was able to be recognized. I feel like it’s such a big world, there’s so many people out there, to know that a community was interested in helping me really made me feel special,” said Mya.
IECF is proudly cheering Mya on as she continues to follow her dreams. Thanks to donors who understand the importance of education and the very real financial hurdles facing families today, students like Mya are pursuing their dreams and gaining first-hand appreciation of what it means to belong to a caring community.
Inspired by Mya’s story? We invite you to consider establishing a fund with IECF. We’ll help you align your philanthropic goals with meaningful, local impact, so every gift you make helps a student or nonprofit thrive. Let’s build something extraordinary together. Contact our Charitable Giving Team at giving@iegives.org or call 951-241-7777.
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