Thanks to the South Jersey Scholarship Fund, Aliyah Stephens’ Catholic education stayed on course, guiding her to success in the classroom, on the basketball court and in life.
The 2017 graduate of Haddonfield’s Paul VI High School described how the fund’s contribution toward her senior-year payment enabled her to finish her secondary education at the Catholic high school.
“[We] needed help with the tuition,” Stephens admitted, noting she lost her father to lung cancer in her junior year. “My mom is a big believer in Catholic education, but I would have had to leave Paul VI.”
Help came in the form of scholarship money from the fund, established in 2001 to aid students and their families with tuition costs to attend Catholic school. With the help of donations from area individuals, businesses and corporations, the South Jersey Scholarship Fund enables Catholic school students in the Camden Diocese to continue to benefit from the faith-based education. This year’s distribution from the fund was just over $175,000.
“I was so glad to be able to stay at Paul VI, finish high school with my friends and stay on the basketball team,” Stephens said. The basketball team was glad to have her as well: on the hardwood, Stephens was a three-time first-team all-conference, all non-public team and team MVP, and reached 1,000 career points as a junior. In her senior year, she was all-South Jersey second-team performer, and finished her high school career as the all-time leading scorer in Paul VI High School history – amongst girls and boys.
As a service project, Stephens donated her time coaching special-needs adults through the Special Olympics program. “I loved it,” she said. “It was so great that I made it my college service project as well.”
Off the court, the student athlete was a member of the track team, participated in peer leadership and was a member of National Honor and Spanish National Honor Societies. Upon graduation, she received Paul VI High School’s Dr. Ronald Goldberg Memorial Medical Scholarship.
Taking to heart the Paul VI school motto, “Excellence in learning, excellence in life,” Stephens continued her academic and basketball careers at Ursinus College, Collegeville, Pa., where she graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of science honors degree in biology. The pre-med student volunteered her time with her alma mater on the hardwood her senior year, for COVID prevented her from finishing her college sports career.
“I really love coaching, and PVI is a family. When your family needs you…” Stephens explained, recalling how her coach, Lisa Steele, took care of the paperwork so she might qualify to aid the team. “I drove an hour each day from Ursinus just to be there. It’s like coming full circle.”
Stephens earned a master’s degree of science interdisciplinary studies in biological and physical sciences from Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, New York, and plans to pursue a doctorate in osteopathic medicine at that school. “I’ll be the first doctor in the family,” she said, and joked family and friends seeking medical treatment are already lining up. Continuing the family legacy and love of Catholic education, her younger brother, Alex, will enter Paul VI in the fall.
The future physician is working this summer as a clinical research fellow at Drexel University, Philadelphia. Reflecting upon her career path and strong, Catholic foundation, she said, “I learned the importance of values a public school couldn’t have taught me.”
Stephens, now 23, has a message for those individuals and corporations considering assistance to the South Jersey Scholarship Fund.
“Please donate,” Stephens said. “It will give other students the opportunity to go to the school that they love.”
Paul VI High School president Mike Chambers added, “I believe that the generosity of those involved with the South Jersey Scholarship Fund opens the door for many more faith-filled, service-oriented students to attend Catholic school. Providing an opportunity for students like the opportunity provided to Aliyah enhances the overall Catholic high school experience which makes an enormous difference in the lives of those who attend a Catholic school while at the same time establishes a culture of giving back.”
The South Jersey Scholarship Fund is now in the midst of its Spring Sprint for Scholarships campaign to raise $50,000 to help students remain in Catholic School. To contribute, visit southjerseycatholicschools.org/springsprint or call 856-583-6125.
at the bottom and then tap “Add to Home Screen”
