Spotlight on Scholarship Winner Brittany Raye Bell

At Pond Lehocky Giordano, we are honored to recognize Brittany Raye Bell as one of our recipients in this year’s 25 Days of Scholarships program. Brittany’s story is one of resilience, purpose, and extraordinary determination — a reflection of the very values this scholarship initiative was created to celebrate.

Brittany, a single mother from Goldsboro, North Carolina, is preparing to graduate from Wayne Community College with her Associate of Arts degree. This fall, she will transfer to East Carolina University as a Psychology major with a minor in Sociology. Her academic path is rooted in a deeply personal mission: to become a trauma-informed therapist or psychologist who can support African American women and teens who have experienced the kinds of challenges she has faced throughout her life.

In her video submission, Brittany spoke candidly about growing up with anxiety, grief, and learning differences — from being selectively mute until age 12 to being diagnosed with ADHD and executive dysfunction as a teenager. She also reflected on the lasting impact of family trauma, the absence of mental health resources, and the underrepresentation of people of color in psychological care. Rather than letting these challenges hold her back, Brittany has used them as fuel for transformation — both for herself and for her 14-year-old daughter, Adriana.

Brittany shared that motherhood has been her greatest source of motivation. She wants Adriana to see that life’s hardships — whether they stem from loss, neurodivergence, or adversity — do not define you. They can empower you. Her dream is to one day open a trauma-informed wellness center that merges mental health resources with her Christian faith — a space where emotional healing is accessible and stigma-free for people from all walks of life.

For Brittany, receiving this $1,000 scholarship will ease the financial burdens she carries as both a student and a parent. It will allow her to focus more fully on her studies at ECU and take the next steps toward becoming a community leader and mental health advocate. Her story – one of strength, perseverance, and purpose – embodies the heart of this scholarship program.