Washington, DC — September 3, 2025
press@auntbettyfund.org
The Aunt Betty Fund announced today its inaugural scholarships to students in their final year at The University of the District of Columbia (“UDC”) who have committed to teaching at least three years in public or public charter schools in Washington, DC. Scholarships for the 2025-26 academic year have been awarded to: Teresa Davis of Washington, DC, Tranisha Terry of Upper Marlboro, MD, and Johnathan Vinson of Clinton, MD. All are students in UDC’s education programs who were found to have demonstrated high levels of leadership, character, and excellence in academics or professional activities.
The Aunt Betty Fund (“Aunt Betty”) is a newly launched DC-based nonprofit seeking to help the next generation of leaders who are burdened by the cost of achieving a higher education. One of its pilot programs is to help catalyze a movement to help aspiring public school educators pursue their calling without being thrown off course by student debt. A second Aunt Betty pilot program later this year will be dedicated to increasing the awareness of family and friends to the magnitude of student debt taken on by their loved ones – and when so moved to make loan paydown gifts to help reduce the student debt burden in their own families.
“We were able to achieve not just one, but two major objectives in partnership with UDC” said Jack Zoeller, Founder of The Aunt Betty Fund. “First, we are providing tuition cost-relief to three highly deserving UDC students. And second, over the coming years these awards will be leveraged through the positive impact of our three scholarship winners on the next generation of public school students in their classrooms in DC.”
Teresa Davis is completing her degree in Early Childhood Education while serving as an Educational Aide at Lawrence E. Boone Elementary School in Washington, DC. After homeschooling her own children for over a decade, she now brings that same passion for literacy and learning into DC classrooms, with plans to launch a nonprofit literacy program in the future. “Receiving this scholarship means more than financial support—it represents an investment in my growth as an educator. As a teacher, I will use what I’ve gained to inspire my students, foster their love for learning, and empower them to believe in their own potential,” said Davis.
Tranisha Terry is pursuing a degree in Special Education at UDC while serving as Director of The Learning Curve Child Development Center in Washington, DC, where she leads curriculum, compliance, and staff development. With nearly a decade of experience in early childhood education, she is committed to designing inclusive programs that meet the needs of children with diverse learning abilities. “Receiving the Aunt Betty Fund scholarship is a true honor—it gives me both the support and encouragement to continue pursuing my passion for teaching. I hope to inspire and uplift students in underserved communities by creating a classroom where every child feels seen, valued, and empowered to succeed,” said Terry.
Johnathan Vinson, a Masters of Arts in Teaching candidate at UDC, also serves as an attendance counselor at Eastern Senior High School in Washington, DC, where he supports students and families through data-driven interventions and mentorship. A first-generation college student, he draws inspiration from his grandmother’s legacy at Federal City College (a predecessor institution merged into UDC) and is determined to shape future generations as a teacher and, ultimately, a professor. “I am grateful to receive this scholarship, which will allow me to teach in Washington, DC with a culturally responsive mindset and work toward closing the achievement gap in the very city where I once received my own education,” said Vinson.
The application and interview process for the Aunt Betty scholarship was supported in generous partnership with Dr. Anika Burtin and Dr. Ayanna Kelley, directors of the master’s and bachelor’s teaching degree programs, respectively, at UDC’s College of Arts & Sciences Division of Education, Health & Social Work.
“The University of the District of Columbia is excited about this new scholarship offered by The Aunt Betty Fund,” said Dr. Burtin. “This generous donation will allow some of our best and brightest students to pursue their dream of becoming a teacher. These students have demonstrated their desire to serve in the communities that nurtured them. We look forward to the impact they will have on the lives of the students and families of Washington, DC and we are grateful to The Aunt Betty Fund for helping to ease the financial burden that is often a barrier for many of our students.¨
The Aunt Betty Fund is a Candid/Guidestar Platinum-rated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing an online platform for scholarships and student debt relief—ensuring that financial barriers do not stand in the way of finishing a degree or pursuing life's goals. Learn more: http://www.auntbettyfund.org.