2026 Danielle Brown Scholarship Winner

Genesee County Literacy Coalition is proud to announce Vanessa Merlo Galeano as the recipient of the 2026 Danielle Brown Scholarship.

Vanessa's journey embodies the spirit of this scholarship through her commitment to education, leadership, and service to others. A former participant in family literacy programming, she has come full circle by volunteering with Flint & Genesee Literacy Network's family literacy and ESL programs, supporting families, assisting learners, and serving as a translator for adult English language learners. Her dedication continued long after her required service-learning hours were completed, demonstrating a genuine passion for helping her community.

A recent graduate of the Genesee Career Institute Public Safety Program, Vanessa earned Honor Roll recognition and CPR certification while balancing academic achievement, volunteer service, and leadership opportunities. This fall, she will attend Mott Community College with plans to study General Studies before transferring to the University of Michigan to pursue a degree in International Relations. Her long-term goal is to build a career focused on advocacy, leadership, and creating positive change within diverse communities.

Vanessa's perseverance and commitment to serving others make her an outstanding recipient of the 2026 Danielle Brown Scholarship. We congratulate her on this achievement and look forward to seeing the impact she will continue to make in our community and beyond.

We would also like to recognize our runner-up recipients, Tachari Phillips and Emma Tirban, both graduates of Flex High School, for their hard work, determination, and commitment to their educational goals. This fall, Tachari will attend Alabama State University to pursue a degree in Criminal Justice, while Emma will attend Grand Valley State University to study Journalism.

This year marked our largest pool of applicants to date, and we congratulate all of the students who were nominated. We are proud to celebrate their hard work, achievements, and commitment to their future goals.

Thank you to the educators, counselors, program staff, community partners, and supporters who helped share this opportunity and encourage students to apply. We are especially grateful to the donors who continue to invest in this scholarship fund, helping us honor Danielle Brown's legacy while creating opportunities for students across Genesee County.

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