Catch up with a Libraries student scholarship awardee: Ire Debayo-Doherty

The NC State University Libraries awards a number of part-scholarships every year to our outstanding Libraries student workers as part of a concerted effort to support student success and affordability. Since 2018, we've awarded 60 scholarships of varying amounts to 37 students. For the academic year 2023–24, philanthropic support for the Libraries Student Scholarship Fund has allowed us to support 18 of our talented students with scholarship support worth $67,760 in total. This profile is one in a series that lets our scholarship winners tell their stories.

Ire Debayo-Doherty is a sophomore Computer Science major who works as an Ask Us student assistant. She writes passionately about what NC State’s “think and do” philosophy means to her:

“These words mean lack of prejudice. It means the minority and majority have the same opportunities. These words mean as a young, African woman growing up in American society, I have the same opportunities as a young caucasian female. It is not being judged by appearance, having an open mind, and learning about others before forming an opinion. In a general sense, being just and inclusive means that there is a community of people of different backgrounds coming together willingly.”

What are your hobbies and activities outside of school?
When I am not studying, I am either hanging out with friends or spending time with my siblings. I often attend monthly dates with my older sister to catch up on life and school. My sister recently graduated from college, so she is now hands-on in helping and advising me in my college career. Another aspect of my world is serving in the media department of my church. My role within the team is to capture various angles of the church service for the church's Instagram. I enjoy serving at my church, and it has helped me have a balanced life. 

Why did you choose to work at the Libraries? What roles have libraries played in your life in general?
I choose to work at the Libraries because I love to interact with people. I am outgoing and friendly. Getting the opportunity to help my fellow classmates has been very fulfilling. The role the Libraries has played in my life is to create a sacred place for me to study each week., helping me stay disciplined in maintaining my study schedule. 

What have you been most looking forward to this school year?
I am looking forward to growing this academic year. During my first year at NC State, I was just learning the campus, but this year I want to be more involved on campus and discover my passions. I am always looking forward to the various events hosted by the university to learn more and to enrich my college experience.

What do you hope to do after you graduate?
After graduating from NC State, I will be pursuing the accelerated master's program offered at NC State within the computer science department. After that, I will be pursuing my Ph.D. In five years, I will be 25, and I am hoping and working to become a better, more educated, and inspiring woman breaking barriers in the computer science field. 

How will a Libraries scholarship help you on your educational/personal path? Is there anything specific that the scholarship will enable or help you to do?
Expenses that I find challenging are affording to eat meals on campus during the days I have classes. My friends find getting female hygienic products throughout the semester challenging. Another challenge we face as far as college affordability goes is having enough groceries for a couple of weeks because we can’t afford to buy in bulk.

Learn more about the Libraries Student Scholarship Endowment here, and donate directly here.