Published on Dec. 5, 2025
Updated on Dec. 4, 2025
By: Alivia Roach
Athieei Monydit was offered a $50,000 scholarship, for four years of college, fresh out of high school. The offer came from KC scholars, a nonprofit that provides financial support to students from families with low to moderate incomes. With her tuition now within reach, all she had to do was choose a college and earn her degree. In time, she would find her home at Mizzou––but her path to that moment was shaped by so much more than a promising scholarship.
Growing up in a large, close-knit family, Monydit often looked to her parents’ example. Her parents reminded her that she would need to find ways to fund her education because of the family’s financial limitations. Determined, she began searching for options, and KC Scholars was at the top of the list.
Months before she decided to apply for the organization’s “Traditional Scholarship for 11th Graders,” Monydit faced unimaginable hardship. The passing of her older brother left the family in a state of profound grief.
There was a loss for words as the family learned to cope with the weight of the loss.
“I felt at that point, I didn’t know what to do,” Monydit said. “I thought to myself, ‘What would my brother want me to do?’ As hard as it was to move forward, I don’t believe God intended for my life to stop there. And I carried those that with me.”
Now motivated by her sense of purpose, she began to plan for her future again. But soon after, her mother took ill and was hospitalized with COVID-19. Once again, Monydit couldn’t help but feel defeated, asking herself the question, “How can I continue if the people I love aren’t here?”
And with the strength she had left, she did. She applied to KC Scholars and waited with a heavy yet hopeful heart. When she received the news that she was selected, her home was full of celebration.
Although weary, she refused to be defeated. The scholarship opened the door for her to start a new chapter at Mizzou and pursue a degree that would provide a brighter future.
Now majoring in health science with an emphasis in leadership and policy, Monydit is committed to excelling academically. She plans to join a clinical program to become a sonographer. She is also involved on campus at the Multicultural Center, where she works, and the Gaines Oldham Black Culture Center––both spaces support values she is passionate about.
Because of the role KC Scholars played in her journey, she prioritizes staying connected with the opportunities they provide through the Center for Academic Success and Excellence (CASE) at Mizzou.
Looking ahead, she hopes to extend the support she received in her hardest moments to others facing similar struggles.
“I want to give back to more organizations like KC Scholars because they were there in my time of need. It’s nice to see organizations like that helping students from low-income backgrounds overcome the financial barriers between them and their degree,” Monydit said. “Who knows, maybe one day I’ll create my own scholarship.”
Learn more about CASE and how they can support you during your time at Mizzou. Visit their website today.