LIFE

Once homeless Mauldin High graduate winner of prestigious scholarship

Angelia Davis
davisal@greenvilleonline.com
A co-president of her student class at Mauldin High, Khendra Witt helped lead the school into raising more than $91,000 during Spirit Week for A Child's Haven.

When Khendra Witt’s father suffered a stroke and was no longer able to support the family financially, they found themselves in an unthinkable place. They became homeless.

Witt, a 2016 graduate of Mauldin High, said no one ever would have known she was homeless by the way she carries herself.

And although it was hard, she did not allow those circumstances to hold her back or define her. Instead, they made her stronger.

“It showed me that real life isn’t easy, but if I persevere, I can do anything,” Witt said. “I let it be a motivator on my journey toward success.”

In doing so, Witt received some financial help to make that journey a little easier.

She became the 2016 Service Above Self Scholar, which comes with a $5,000 per year scholarship for a total of $20,000 for four years.

The title and its benefits are awarded annually by Greenville Rotary, to a graduating high school senior who has exceptional community service, outstanding academic achievement, exemplary personal attributes and strengths, and financial need, said Dr. Judith Prince of Greenville Rotary.

The student who receives the award exemplifies the Rotary motto of Service Above Self through his or her contributions to the community, and has the potential to continue the Rotary mission in the future, Prince said.

Witt, who was co-president of her senior class at Mauldin High and plans to attend Furman University, told members of the Rotary Club during their afternoon meeting at the Westin Poinsett that she feels honored to be able to represent the organization as the Service Above Self Scholar.

“I look forward to doing amazing things at Furman, with all of the service opportunities, and to give back to Greenville,” she said.

Witt has already done a lot of amazing things.

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In addition to volunteering at numerous organizations, she is a member of the National Honor Society, the Beta Club, the National Spanish Honor, and a math honor society.

As co-president of her class at Mauldin High, she provided leadership for the school’s Spirit Week, during which $91,447.84 was raised for A Child’s Haven to fund a bus to transport infants, Prince said.

Witt was a high school freshman when her father, Kenneth Witt, suffered the stroke that left him unable to work.

The situation, she said, made it difficult for her to transition into high school.

It also enabled her to find her passion for making a difference in people’s lives, “whether it be small things such as random acts of kindness or big things like service projects,” she said.

Witt said she focused even more on academics because “I knew that an education would be the base for me to succeed. I became more involved in school and church activities.”

Witt said her family, which includes her mother, Kimberly, two brothers and a sister, went through the Greenville Area Interfaith Hospitality Network (GAIHN) program and eventually moved back into a permanent home.

GAIHN assists local congregations in providing emergency shelter, meals, and short-term housing to homeless families and helps those families achieve self-sufficiency and self-fulfillment.

Her father unexpectedly passed away in February, the Thursday before the Service Above Self application was due.

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Having gone through that experience and winning the 2016 Service Above Self Scholarship makes Witt believe it was meant for her have.

But what she wants people to take from her story is that she will keep moving forward and beat the odds.

“I don't want people to feel sorry for me because without my past, I wouldn't be the person I am today,” she said. "Also, I want this to be an inspiration and encouraging story for those people who may be experiencing what I experienced. I know that today isn't promised, so I have to l have to live everyday to the fullest.”

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Khendra Witt
Khendra Witt