Name: Tamanna Sultana
High School: University City High School (2008)
College: Temple University (2011)
Tamanna Sultana has dreamed of becoming a doctor for as long as she can remember. Now a senior chemistry major at Temple University, she is on track to achieving her lifelong goal as she graduates in December 2011 and begins applying to medical school. She is a mentor and teacher to others, a Philadelphia Scholar and our 2011 Rising Star EDDY Award Winner.
Tamanna moved to Philadelphia from Bangladesh with her family in 2005 and started at University City High School as a sophomore. “All of my teachers shaped me,” Tamanna said, explaining how her high school teachers often stayed after school to help and encouraged her to ask questions.
The support she received from the Philadelphia Education Fund’s College Access Program helped her on her pathway to college. After graduating high school as Class Valedictorian in 2008, Tamanna worked closely with her College Access Coordinator, Tanjanesia Willoughby (née Jackson), who helped her apply for the Last Dollar Scholarship from the Philadelphia Scholars Program. “I had already graduated from high school and Ms. Jackson told me to come by any time during the summer for help with my application. She was extremely sweet and helpful!” Tamanna said.
All of this gave her the confidence to become an advisor and teacher to other students when she got to college. Mentoring, tutoring and motivating others have been second nature to Tamanna. She tutors her collegiate peers in chemistry and calculus, and helps mentor incoming freshmen at Temple. Additionally, she works with high school students in Temple’s Upward Bound Program during the school year and even spent a summer living on campus with the students in the program to serve as a mentor.
Her academic achievements have earned her a membership in the Chi Alpha Epsilon Honor Society, and the Dr. Valaida Walker Award for leadership and dedicated service to others.
“My advice to students transitioning from high school to college is to be proactive, seek help, don’t be shy! Use as many resources as possible and ask lots of questions,” Tamanna said.
We will honor Tamanna’s successes and achievements at our 2011 EDDY Awards.