Introducing the 431 Exchange’s 17 Newest Scholarship Winners
The 431 Exchange is proud to introduce our Fall 2026 cohort of 17 scholarship winners—students whose paths are remarkably different, but who share a determination to use education to build stronger futures for themselves, their families, and their communities.
They include future nurses, engineers, a physician, an urban planner, a sports psychologist, a forensic chemist, an IT specialist, a budding filmmaker and a cultural anthropologist preserving the stories of overlooked Louisiana communities. Their studies range from technical certification and undergraduate programs to advanced legal education—and their journeys span young adults just beginning college to returning students pursuing entirely new chapters in their lives.
What stands out about this group is not simply what they hope to become, but what has already shaped them. Some are working while attending school; others are caring for children or parents. Several found their way to higher education through community partners including the New Orleans Career Center and Café Reconcile. One is the daughter of an Adult Education Center graduate, carrying the legacy that began on Exchange Place into another generation. Across their stories are recurring themes of family, perseverance, service, curiosity, and a desire to turn opportunity into something that benefits others.
Over the coming weeks, we’ll introduce these scholars and share their stories individually. For now, we celebrate all 17 together—and welcome them to the growing 431 Exchange family.