In this second part of the Founders Scholarship Fund series on Stories from the River, host Manny Rodrigues welcomes Kaiya McDonald, a two-time recipient of the Founders Scholarship Fund, along with her mother, Orlanda Stewart. Kaiya, a nursing student at North Carolina A&T, reflects on her second year of college, highlighting her determination and meticulous planning that helped her achieve straight A's and make it to the Chancellor's List. She underscores the importance of preparation, a trait instilled by her mother, who has emphasized the value of planning and intentionality. Kaiya also shares her commitment to giving back, mentioning her upcoming trip to Barbados to distribute school supplies and discussing how she balances her academic responsibilities with recreational activities such as attending campus events and hitting the gym.

Orlanda, who has been with Broad River Retail for 13 years and is a leader on the Customer Experience team, also provides insights into her role and the significance of connection in her work. She expresses immense pride in Kaiya's achievements, noting her daughter's lifelong dream of becoming a nurse and her intrinsic care for others. The episode touches on the concept of "connect," the word of the year at Broad River, and how both Kaiya and Orlanda apply this theme in their respective spheres—Kaiya in her academic and community engagements and Orlanda in fostering strong relationships within her team and with customers. The episode ends with encouraging words for future scholarship applicants and praise for Kaiya's accomplishments and determination as she prepares for her third year at college.

This episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zFIylBHLVak

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