2 students share about the Birmingham scholarship program creating paths + opportunities

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Recent UAB grad Angel Pine recalls a day back at Ramsay High when the path opened up to the career she has today as a communications coordinator for the UAB Department of Pediatrics. That is when she learned about a then-new Birmingham scholarship program, the Birmingham Promise.

The same initiative is helping another young resident, Torey Kelly, return to his educational path toward working in cybersecurity one day.

Read on to learn more about how the Birmingham Promise has opened doors for these young people and many more like them.

Angel Pine: Scholarship, internships + career

While in high school, Angel Pine knew she wanted a career in communications and yet worried she couldn’t afford college. During her sophomore year, she learned about the Birmingham Promise.

“When I learned that it covered tuition at in-state universities and two-year colleges, I knew I couldn’t let the opportunity pass by, especially since my dream was to attend UAB.”
_{Angel Pine, Birmingham Promise scholar + 2025 UAB grad}

That dream came true, and her dedication to coursework and internships at Alabama Public Television and UAB Neurosurgery led to her current role not long after graduating in May.

Read more about Pine and how the Birmingham Promise sets local students up for success.

Torey Kelly: On track to pursue cybersecurity

Torey Kelly was a student at Huffman High when he learned about the Birmingham Promise and entered its apprenticeship program, working for the Birmingham Board of Education. He’d also developed an interest in cybersecurity and began exploring paths toward a career in the field.

With scholarship support, he left for Alabama A&M in Huntsville. When housing challenges disrupted his sophomore year, he returned home and reconnected with the Birmingham Promise team. He’s now pursuing his associate degree in computer science at Lawson State.

“Sometimes you can be delayed, but never denied. Everybody works on their own time, and God puts you on your own feet and in your own journey. The people with The Birmingham Promise are really putting their feet on the ground when it comes to the students and put their hands where they’re putting their money.”
_{Torey Kelly, Birmingham Promise scholar at Lawson State}

How the Birmingham Promise works

Funded through public funds and private donations, Birmingham Promise aims to make higher education and career pathways accessible for every Birmingham City Schools student.

It comprises two related program areas:

• Scholarships: Tuition assistance at Alabama’s public colleges and universities, including two-year schools.
  • $14.9 million in tuition assistance + other supports to students since the program began in 2020
• Work-Based Learning: Paid internships that give high school seniors professional experience before graduation.
  • To date, 393 students have participated, working with over 150 business partners

Over 1,600 students supported

Birmingham Promise Executive Director Samantha Williams says one thing that sets the Birmingham program apart from similar initiatives elsewhere is its work-based learning component and its strong support from local business partners.

“They sign up to hire a young person for either a semester or for the full year, and they’re paid $15 an hour. The majority of our businesses undertake that cost themselves, in addition to dedicating a supervisor for each intern to support them throughout their internship.”
_{Samantha Williams, Executive Director, Birmingham Promise}

Interested in supporting local students in pursuing their career dreams? Learn the many ways you can on the Birmingham Promise website.