Washington Mystics forward
Chamique Holdsclaw presented a check for $10,000 to Mirena
Heigh, a 1999 graduate of H.D. Woodson Senior High School in
Washington. D.C. and a Hoop Dreams Scholarship Fund student,
at the halftime ceremony during the August 8 Mystics game
versus the Miami Sol. Heigh, joined by Hoop Dreams Founder
Susie Kay, is accepting the award on behalf of her fellow
students, other recipients of scholarships from Hoop Dreams.
The scholarship represents funds awarded to Holdsclaw by
Yahoo!Sports recognizing her as the top vote getter in the
2001 WNBA All-Star balloting
-- and, in turn, donated by Holdsclaw to the Hoop Dreams
Scholarship Fund The contribution builds upon a $5000
scholarship contribution made personally by Holdsclaw to
Hoop Dreams earlier this year and continues the star
player's significant leadership in the community.
"Hoop Dreams is a wonderful program." said Holdsclaw. it
has helped so many young people in Washington realize their
potential and given them the means to achieve their goals."
Mirena Heigh is one of over 400 students to receive Hoop
Dreams scholarships since the program began in 1996. Through
the help of Holdsclaw's contribution and Hoop Dreams, Heigh
will be continuing her studies at Cheyney University in
Philadelphia this Fall. entering her junior year in Computer
Science.
The Hoop Dreams Scholarship Fund is a year-round,
volunteer-driven organization that works to raise academic
college scholarships for inner city Washington, D.C. public
high school students and connect these students to the
Washington professional business community through a college
prep mentoring program and internship program. While the
program provides academic scholarships and programs, each
year in June the organization holds its Hoop Dreams
Scholarship Fund" charity basketball tournament to raise
funds and bring together the community. Over recent years
Mystics and Wizzards players have participated in the
tournament ceremonies and Chamique Holdsclaw's support of
the program builds on this past involvement.
Hoop Dreams was founded in 1996 and is still led by the
Founder and President of the organization, Susie Kay, a
teacher at H.D Woodson Senior High School in Washington, DC.
Since its inception, Hoop Dreams has awarded over 600
academic college scholarships and renewals totaling about
$1.6 million while running the support programs to help
ensure that students succeed in reaching college and beyond.
