Pell is Essential: Alumni Profile - Shanneal Young

As Congress considers the level and structure of funding for federal need-based grant aid as part of the appropriations process, Come to Believe is highlighting the voices of graduates from Arrupe College and Dougherty Family College. These talented individuals demonstrate the impact of federal investments in undergraduate financial aid. Their stories show that federal funding for financial aid, in the words of one alumna, is “not just helpful, it is essential.”

Tell us a bit about yourself. What year did you graduate from DFC? What are you up to now? What are your academic/professional goals?

Hi, I'm Shanneal. I graduated from DFC in May of 2025 and I'm now a junior at the University of St. Thomas and I'm pursuing my bachelor’s degree with a major in business administration and potentially a minor in real estate. I also have a summer internship lined up at Pentair.

What role did affordability play in your decision to attend college and DFC specifically?

So DFC was very affordable, even though it wasn't completely free. I had to still pay something, but definitely not what I would have to pay compared to another school. But I also knew that I was getting a lot more than just a scholarship: a free laptop, free meal swipes every day, and a lot of other supports.

How did DFC support you financially? How did that financial aid support help you be successful in college? 

Overall, not having to worry about having to pay thousands more that other students might have to pay was definitely a huge relief because I could focus more on studying while I was at DFC. Plus, they helped me find paid internships while I was enrolled as well. As soon as I started at DFC, I knew that I wanted to keep my grades up because I knew that there was a chance I could get the Excellence Scholarship [full ride scholarship to the University of St. Thomas]—that was the end goal for me. I always tried my best even when there were difficulties to keep my grades up and it paid off because I did get the Excellence Scholarship. So I'm very fortunate that I won't have to take out loans compared to other students that really struggle or might have to pay back loans. So I'm incredibly grateful for that.

How did attending DFC impact your life overall?

DFC helped me grow personally and academically. In high school, there was a lot going on, a lot of people not being motivated to do homework, myself included. When I came to DFC, that changed. There was different coursework and different people around me, but there was always motivation. I had six friends that I was really close with in my cohort and we would always try to study together and four of those individuals also earned the Excellence Scholarship.

What is a unique memory you can share with us from your time at DFC?

I had an internship with three other students from DFC at US Bank. I loved that internship because I was working with people that I knew which made it really impactful being able to come into work and know that I knew someone and I could work with them on projects and we could all collaborate together. It also opened the door for future opportunities for me like the internship that I have this summer. Overall, just gaining the ability to know how to reach out to people, knowing how to be a little bit more independent after having resources and trying to develop myself professionally and personally—It helps me become a more confident person where I can do those things on my own and not have to rely on the people around me.

 What would you say to a public official about the importance of financial aid for college students?

I would say that financial aid is really important for people that really are determined to do big things and want to impact the world, especially people that have different perspectives and want to help out communities that are less fortunate. And if you're not letting those people that might be in the less fortunate category continue with their studies and put their best foot forward, then how are we going to have a diverse world where everyone is supported and feels welcome? And overall, the opportunity for me to study at DFC was only possible because of the financial aid that was given to me that covered textbook costs, tuition, technology, food. Without it, it would have definitely made school very difficult and I probably wouldn't have gotten that scholarship.