Strada Scholars Program
Honors Program
Strada Scholars in Action
Highlights of the accomplishments, memorable moments, and inspiring journeys of our scholars as they reach important milestones on their path to success.
Janiya Camphor, Health Information Systems major, celebrates becoming the first graduate of the Coppin Strada Program at Coppin State University in May 2026.
(from left) Peace Alayode, Avanti Bennings, Janiya Camphor, Benjamin Apana-Korley, Dr. Suzetta Land, Paola Pichinte, Makayla Webb, and Nevaeh Kendall
STANDING: Christian Pareja, Miracle Kelley, Paola Pichinte
SEATED: Janiya Camphor, Makayla Webb, Nevaeh Kendall
Strada Scholars Program
Strada Scholars are part of a nationwide cohort of select students at institutions participating in the Strada HBCU Initiative. The Initiative supports promising students as they prepare for their careers through leadership activities, internship opportunities, and scholarship assistance. Coppin State University’s Strada Scholars are:
- Peace Alayode (Sophomore/Cybersecurity Engineering)
- Benjamin Apana-Korley (Sophomore/Computer Science)
- Avanti Bennings (Sophomore/Psychology)
- Janiya Camphor (Senior/Health Sciences)
- Nevaeh Kendall (Junior/Nursing)
- Paola Pichinte (Junior/Criminal Justice)
- Makayla Webb (Junior/Biology)
Strada HBCU Leadership Summit
Coppin Honors Scholars Attend the 2025 Strada HBCU Leadership Summit
Seven Honors Program students attended the March 2025 Strada HBCU Leadership Summit in Dallas, Texas. The Summit allowed students to connect their classroom experiences to their careers as they networked with peers from HBCUs throughout the country, shared best practices, and gleaned from experts in a variety of fields.
Workshop sessions included “Personal Branding,” “The Etiquette Doctor,” “Health and Wellness,” “Life Beyond Graduation,” “Navigating Careers as a Young Professional,” and “Strategies for Building Generational Wealth.” The Summit was also host to the Career Expo, which provided participants the opportunity to meet with employers to learn of work-based learning experiences and entry-level career positions. Additionally, students found the weekend inspiring, as it tackled topics such as fear and anxiety, very common emotions experienced by young job seekers.
Coppin State University students in attendance were Peace Alayode (Cybersecurity Engineering), Benjamin Apana-Korley (Computer Science), Avanti Bennings (Psychology), Janiya Camphor (Health Information Management), Nevaeh Kendall (Nursing), Paola Pichinte (Criminal Justice), and Makayla Webb (Biology).
The comprehensive offerings of the Summit made it the ideal vehicle to assist students in making the segue from college to career.
Strada Scholars Program Graduates
Janiya Camphor, a Health Information Systems major, made history as the first graduate of Coppin State University's Coppin Strada Program. She successfully completed the program and graduated in May 2026, marking a significant milestone for both the initiative and the university.
