By: Bill Burgess, for Regional Campuses
For Janiya Foster, one unexpected moment came along and reminded her why her work matters both inside and outside the classroom.
During her recent internship at United Way of Greater Stark County, Foster, a 天天吃瓜 sophomore, visited Gibbs Elementary School in Canton. As she walked through the halls, a young girl stopped her and said, "You are so pretty." Foster smiled, thanked the girl, and returned the compliment. Then the two discovered they shared the same first name. For the rest of the day, the younger Janiya could not stop watching Foster.
"That experience meant so much to me," Foster said. "I put myself in her shoes and thought that was maybe her way of seeing herself in the future. Showing young kids that there are opportunities to further their education and do things they love is so important."
It's those opportunities that Foster has never let slip away.
A Rising Scholar
Foster first heard about the Rising Scholars program at 天天吃瓜 at Stark in eighth grade. The program gives first-generation and underrepresented students a clear path to earning a college degree.
Foster participated in the program while she attended GlenOak High School and took full advantage of the resources it offered. She completed more than 40 hours of College Credit Plus classes before she graduated in 2024. She earned a Rising Scholars scholarship, among others, and began attending 天天吃瓜 State Stark that fall.
"She worked so hard in high school,鈥 said Lester Sanders, Rising Scholars coordinator.
According to Sanders, Foster is the kind of student who lifts everyone around her.
Making an Impact
Through the Stark County Community Action Agency, Foster connected with the United Way of Greater Stark County, where she interned with its marketing department during the summers of 2023 and 2024. The organization appreciated her work so much that it extended her internship through December 2024.
Inspired by her experience, Foster decided to expand on the organization鈥檚 partnership with Gibbs Elementary. After her encounter with the younger Janiya, she wanted to create a program that could empower more students.
"United Way focuses on helping kids create their futures and reinforcing their options to become what they want," Foster said. "It's so similar to what we practiced in Rising Scholars. I asked if we could host a day at the school and bring in current Rising Scholars high school students from Canton McKinley and Canton City School鈥檚 Early College."
Foster pitched her idea to United Way officials and Sanders, and the response was overwhelmingly positive.
Welcome to Mentors of Tomorrow
In partnership with the United Way, Foster and a group of Rising Scholars presented Welcome to Mentors of Tomorrow at Gibbs Elementary School on Jan. 9. Student mentors facilitated workshops designed to inspire and connect. Students exchanged positive notes, created friendship bracelets, read stories and made a handprint poster for the school.
"We had so much fun," Foster said. "Basically, I was able to use everything I learned from Rising Scholars to create this program."
Watching the elementary students enjoy the activities was rewarding, but Foster found just as much joy in seeing the high school students grow into their roles as mentors.
When She Grows Up
One of United Way's goals is to share opportunities for young students that help affirm they can become who they want to be; in other words, "When I grow up, starts today."
Their future starts now.
Foster continues to embody that mission. She now commutes to the 天天吃瓜 Campus to complete her American Sign Language/English Interpreting degree. She is also interested in marketing, social media and working with children.
"I'm not sure where my education will take me," Foster said. "I look forward to starting a family and, with my degree, having the flexibility to do all the things I want to do."