Aaliyah Jeter: No holds barred

Aaliyah Jeter is a senior from Saginaw, Mich., majoring in chemistry, with a minor in environmental and sustainability studies. She will graduate in spring 2020.

Aaliyah Jeter was about to enter her senior year at MSU. But because of a remaining balance on her account, a “hold” prohibited her from enrolling in her classes.

“I was raised in a single-parent household with a mother who makes ‘too much’ for me to be able to receive adequate financial aid,” Jeter said. “I was unable to come up with the $2,000 I owed on my account, and I already had a large amount of student loans.”

A meeting with her advisor led her to the NatSci Undergraduate Emergency Assistance Fund.

These emergency funds are available to assist students who are faced with minor financial needs and challenges, including unforeseen expenses that may put students in jeopardy of completing their MSU education. To date, seven students have been helped by this fund since its inception in April 2019.

Because of donors who generously gave to establish and support the fund, Jeter is now on track to complete her undergraduate degree at MSU.

“Although the fund didn’t cover the full amount of my balance, it did help with a portion of it,” Jeter said. “And for that, I was grateful.”

Receiving these funds allows students to focus not only on their coursework and research, but on extracurricular experiences that will advance their careers in the sciences and help them develop personally and professionally.

“During my years as an underclassman, I had the opportunity to participate in undergraduate research,” Jeter said. “That’s when my interest in chemistry sparked.”

She was a NatSci Dean’s Research Scholar (2018-2019) and is currently the regional publications/public relations chairperson for the National Society of Black Engineers.

After earning her degree, Jeter plans to work within a company’s environmental, health and safety division to ensure all compliances are met regarding any chemicals used, and to ensure that the company meets the standards of sustainability.

Jeter said she is grateful to the College of Natural Science and those who have donated to the NatSci emergency fund.