Raven King '26

Raven King’s journey to the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford wasn’t without challenges, but nothing could deter her from pursuing her dream of becoming a pharmacist. With a family background rooted in the military, Raven spent her childhood moving across the country. Education was not a strong focus in her household, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, she had to leave high school to care for her younger siblings and help support her family financially.

At 19, Raven earned her GED and began taking college courses at HACC and Elizabethtown College. Although things didn’t go as planned at those institutions, her path changed when she visited Pitt-Bradford in 2022 to reconnect with friends from middle school. After visiting campus, Raven made the decision to enroll at Pitt-Bradford in 2023—and she hasn’t looked back since.

Now a biology major with her sights set on pharmacy school, Raven is thriving academically and professionally. She works as a library aide at the Hanley Library through the federal work-study program, a role that allows her to contribute meaningfully to the campus community while building essential skills. She also works off campus as a pharmacy technician at CVS in Bradford, gaining hands-on experience in the healthcare field.  In addition, Raven finds time to volunteer with Rotaract, demonstrating her passion for community service and engagement.

Raven’s academic dedication led her to participate in two undergraduate research projects with Dr. Lanre Monrenikeji, Assistant Professor of Biology. These projects—“An Overview of Invasive Ductal Carcinoma in Women’s Breast Cancer” and “Mechanism of Infection and Immune Response in Tuberculosis and Hepatitis B Virus Co-Infection”—were both published with Raven credited as a contributor.

As a non-traditional student, Raven finances her education independently. She is deeply grateful for the donor scholarships she has received, which have helped alleviate the burden of college expenses.

“Opportunities like these scholarships mean a great deal to students like me,” Raven shared. “Thank you for your generosity and for supporting students in our pursuit of higher education. I truly appreciate it and I hope to pay it forward in the future.”