Success Story
Growing up, Anthony Santana faced more than his share of hardships. “I’ve experienced nights without electricity or hot water and months where I had to live with my friends because I couldn’t stay at my house,” he says.
“My College Access Program coordinator was amazing…With her assistance, I was able to apply to 11 schools for free and get into all of them.”
But these challenges, along with the steadfast support of his College Access Program coordinator, only reinforced his work ethic and instilled a desire to excel. “My College Access Program coordinator was amazing. She helped me fill out college applications, encouraged me to apply to lots of schools and made sure I was on track every time something was due. With her assistance, I was able to apply to 11 schools for free and get into all of them. She even stayed involved in my life after I graduated.”
A recipient of scholarships from PEF’s Philadelphia Scholars Program, and the Robert C. Digges Scholarship Fund, Anthony is now a graduating senior at Indiana University of Pennsylvania where he is an athletic training major. He is also president of the Athletic Training Club and the university’s Promising Scholars Program through which he was awarded a full-tuition scholarship.
After graduation, Anthony plans to pursue a doctoral degree in physical therapy. “Knowing that there are people out there who want to invest in my academic success drives me to continually improve,” he says.
