The Detroit Mercy Libraries, along with Titan Equity Nourish Network (TENN) and The Varsity News, are pleased to announce the recipients of the third annual Adia J. Palmer Memorial Scholarship:
- Kenyon Lofton
- Jeniffer Rodriguez Garcia
The scholarship was made possible through donations from UDM students, faculty and staff, as well as the friends and family of Adia J. Palmer. Palmer was a Detroit Mercy senior majoring in Communication Studies, who also worked as a library student assistant, TENN volunteer and as a Varsity News writer and photographer. She passed away unexpectedly in March 2022.
The scholarship honors Palmer’s legacy of creativity, inspiration and elevation, and her desire to make the world a better place through joy, peace and love. Both Lofton and Garcia exemplify this spirit.
Kenyon Lofton, an Economics major minoring in English and earning a Legal Studies Certificate, credits a lecture on redlining and the Black Codes given by Charles Cross, senior landscape designer and adjunct professor in the School of Architecture, with sparking his interest in how “the development of… neighborhoods has a direct impact on the overall quality of life of the people in that community.”
Volunteering at TENN reinforced his understanding of the importance of walkability and transportation to neighborhoods, especially when it comes to accessing nutritious food, and inspired him further. “This is… something I’ve noticed… when delivering food to the families in the surrounding neighborhood and the Teresa Maxis Senior Living Apartments… After acquiring my Juris Doctor degree, I hope to combat malicious regional planning and its negative effects on economic development and quality of life for underrepresented and underserved communities.”
Jeniffer Rodriguez Garcia, a first-year Dental Hygiene student, chose her path with the intention to “help people gain confidence and comfort through improving the appearance of their teeth,” and says she “fell in love with the field after shadowing a hygienist.”
Since starting at the University, Garcia has been involved with the National Society of Leadership and Success and TENN. Additionally, she has worked as a student library assistant for the last three years, something she continues today. Upon graduating, Garcia plans to obtain her license to practice in Michigan. When she isn’t studying, she enjoys creative writing, reading, drawing, photography and crocheting.
Whether these recipients plan to use their scholarships for books, course materials or to otherwise ease financial constraints on their educational journeys, we can’t wait to see the difference they make in our communities and the world! Congratulations to these inspirational Titans!