“I didn’t think I would be able to afford a four-year school until I heard about The Pittsburgh Promise,” says Sarmed Shareef, a 2008 graduate of Schenley High School and a UPMC Scholar of The Pittsburgh Promise. Sarmed entered his senior year at Pittsburgh Schenley High School hoping to attend college, but he felt sure that he could only afford going to the local community college. When news of The Pittsburgh Promise began to emerge in January of 2008, he suddenly could dream bigger about his future. However, one problem remained; Sarmed had not been academically motivated during his first two years of high school and he was just shy of the grade point average required to be eligible for The Promise. With the opportunity to go away to school now in reach, he began to focus on his studies so that he could bring up his grades and get a Promise scholarship. Sarmed is now nearing the end of his freshman year at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He is thriving as a Safety Science major and as a college student. He is enjoying the independence that comes with being a college student, a few games of basketball each week, and his volunteer work at a daycare center. He is thankful for The Pittsburgh Promise and the opportunity it gave him to go away to school. He says “college is very hard work,” and then proudly adds, “I got a 4.0 my first semester and I am on track to get a 4.0 this semester too.” We are proud of Sarmed too.   Scholar List: Sarmed Sarah Jahmiah