Scholarship Winners: Sadie Burrell, Haivyn LaSalle, Jhani Davenport, Jamye Rooks.
Sadie Burrell
An Ambassador of Joy Seeking to Create Children’s Films and Books
Sadie Burrell is channeling her sweet, joyful spirit into work that she hopes will help lift others up. She is studying Moving Image Arts at the University of Louisiana in Lafayette, and her message to others is to live authentically.
A 2024 graduate of Thomas Jefferson Academy for Advanced Studies in Gretna, Sadie wants to show members of the LGBTQ community that it’s okay to be themselves. “One of the biggest things that inspires me is the positive interactions I have had with younger queer people who I have met who were excited to meet another queer young adult,” she shared. “They make me brave enough to keep presenting as myself, and I am eager to make the world a safer place for them. Sadie also finds inspiration in her favorite artists and she hopes the art she creates will provide that inspiration and joy in others.
A confident and effervescent young woman, Sadie works on her school’s newspaper and yearbook, and her curriculum is helping to cultivate her visual storytelling skills that she will parlay in books and filmmaking.
Sadie said she has followed the 431 Exchange’s work for a while, and values its commitment to lifelong learning. “As someone with two parents who have pursued further education farther into their adulthoods, I am really glad there is a nonprofit for people who pursue this,” she said. “I hope to be a continuing learner as I get older.”
Haivyn LaSalle
Pursuing a Degree in Cultural Anthropology to Document Community Needs and Give Voice to Overlooked Groups
Described as a poised and passionate student, Haivyn LaSalle is seeking ways to give voice to the special South Louisiana communities that have been overlooked in the past.
A 2017 graduate of St. Amant High School, Haivyn is studying Cultural Anthropology with a Certificate of Archival Studies at Louisiana State University.
Having studied her family’s history in the reconstruction era, Haivyn discovered that her formerly enslaved fifth great grandfather was a community leader, elected as a delegate of the fifth ward of Ascension Parish, and he attended the Colored Men’s Convention in 1873. “This not only inspired me but instilled in me courage for what is possible,” she said. “I am eager to make a difference due to the impact of legacy I feel called to continue.”
A high achiever with an A average, Haivyn enjoys the opportunity her Anthropology program provides her to study communities and share their stories and needs, “giving voice to the forgotten and overlooked, sharing the lives and experiences happening right here in Cancer Alley, Louisiana.”
Haivyn said she admires the 431 Exchange’s commitment to her home state. “It is honorable to support the education of not only the state you reside in but specifically the people from local communities who will impact and share our communities.”
Jhani Davenport
Removing the Stigma from Mental Health Issues
Jhani Davenport understands what people struggling with mental health issues are going through, and she wants them to know it is okay to ask for help.
Inspired by her mother’s resilience, persistence and determination, and the strength she displayed in working through clinical depression, Jhani learned to understand different ways of thinking. Her compassion and experience led her to major in psychology at Loyola University, drawn in by the school’s emphasis on understanding human behavior, educating the whole person, service and ethical awareness.
Empathetic and articulate, Jhani is a graduate of De La Salle high school in New Orleans who volunteered in the New Orleans Career Center’s administrative office. She hopes to become a sports psychologist to help athletes manage the unique pressures they face. A former basketball and volleyball player, Jhani said she experienced her own struggles and that experience can inform her ability to help others.
“I am a mental health advocate and would like to continue that passion to be a sports psychologist because athletes take on a lot of responsibility,” she said. “Taking time to take care of your mental health gets overlooked.”
Jhani said she relates to the 431 Exchange’s commitment to change lives through education. “The 431 Exchange demonstrates how more access to education empowers individuals to overcome challenges and create a positive impact on communities.”
Jamye Rooks
Advocating for People with Disabilities
Her experience living with Multiple Sclerosis inspired Jamye Rooks to “turn my challenges into hope for others.”
A 1998 graduate of Glen Oaks High School in Baton Rouge, Jamye is returning to school after raising children and caring for her mother until she passed away. A focused and determined student, Jamye has a wealth of personal experience to draw on. She previously attended Southern University, the University of Phoenix and Baton Rouge Community College, but now she is close to receiving her psychology degree online from Upper Iowa University. She is ready to become a disability advocate to empower those with disabilities, promote inclusion and “help others realize that their circumstances do not define their potential.”
“The psychology program provides the knowledge and skills to better understand human behavior, mental health and the challenges people face,” Jamye said. “I plan to use my degree to sere others with compassion, advocate for inclusion, and create opportunities that empower people to live with dignity, independence, and hope.”
Jamye said she and the 431 Exchange share a common goal. “Your belief that investing in people’s potential can transform lives and strengthen communities reflects my own goal of using my psychology degree and future work in disability advocacy to help others overcome barriers and achieve success.”