Shippensburg University first-year softball player Ryan Morse was recognized earlier this semester as a H.O.P.E. (Helping Our People Excel) Diversity Scholarship recipient.
 
The H.O.P.E. Diversity Scholarship is for incoming first-year students who rank in the upper 10 percent of their high school class and have an average SAT score of 1050 or higher. The scholarship may be retained for an additional three years providing the student remains eligible according to the criteria.
 
Morse is in her first year at Shippensburg and is an outfielder on the softball team. She is majoring in exercise science with an allied health pre-professional concentration.
 
"Last semester introduced me to some of the trials and tribulations of my life for the next four years, but there is no other place I'd rather be than here," Morse said in a speech at a scholarship reception last month.
 
In her acceptance speech, Morse shared her appreciation for the recognition.
 
"Thank you to the donors for not letting the hard work of black girls like me go unnoticed," Morse said. "Thank you to my parents for installing the passion and drive in me and believing in me when I didn't believe in myself. And thank you to my siblings for being such amazing role models and showing me the value of hard work."