Mohamud navigated by tapping her DFC “go- to” person. “After we came to St. Thomas, I was lost because it was a big school,” she said. “But I connected with Katia [Colón-Holmers] from DFC. She helped me with resources, an internship, my major and how to sign up for classes. She knew everybody and she guided me to the right people.” DFC is segmented by cohorts, allowing students to bond with peers as well as staff and faculty, said Buffy Smith, interim dean of the Dougherty Family College. The scholars’ reflections on their time enrolled in the program support that sentiment. “My freshman year, there was an incident where I ended up in Buffy’s class crying,” Saucedo said. “She taught me how to say positive affirmations to myself, and every once in a while, I’ll tell myself positive affirmations and just see things in a better light.”
“Making higher education affordable is racial justice,” said Kathy Dougherty, founding co-benefactor and namesake of the college with her husband Mike, who sits on the St. Thomas Board of Trustees. “I know they will go out and make a difference in our world. I have dreams they will be leaders.” So far, 58% of DFC graduates from 2019 and 2020 – its first and second classes – continued on with their studies. A dedicated 11 of them graduated this spring and summer from St. Thomas and another finished at Metro State University. Approximately 20 others are on a five-year plan and positioned to graduate in 2022. Smith said she and her team are extremely proud of the DFC alumni who graduated this spring and summer in four years. “We eagerly wait to see the ways in which our DFC graduates will change our society and create a more just and equitable world.”
Leaders in the making “These graduates have demon- strated strong commitment
Opening doors
Mohamud, who majored in digital media arts, credits her DFC internships for setting her on a career path by elevating her interests in social media and photography. “I really want to work with an organization doing public relations and videography,” she said.
and determination to achieve their educa- tional goals while navi- gating the pandemic and
other life challenges,” Smith said. “We celebrate and honor their resolve to never give up.”
DFC is a St. Thomas initiative that Smith describes as “amission equity-driven college geared to set traditionally underrepresented students on a path to earn a four-year degree.” Many DFC scholars are first-generation college students and students of color, with high financial need. In fact, 95% of the DFC student body identify as being BIPOC and 73% of them are the first people in their families to go to college. More than half of the DFC students paid only $1,030 out of pocket for tuition and fees for an entire academic year. This support doesn’t come cheap: DFC has a 10-year fundraising goal of $30 million.
Ten out of 12 graduating seniors had internships when they were at DFC. They were with U.S. Bank, 3M, Hubbard Broadcasting, Ryan Companies, Padilla, Delta Air Lines, Dougherty Financial, Catholic Schools Center of Excellence, Rêve Academy and Wildflower Schools. In addition to the corporate mentors, DFC students are surrounded by people who support them before they even get to college, including family members, counselors, teachers and nonprofit organizations.
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