Hello everyone,

My name is Darion Butts, and I am reaching out to my community to help keep a dream alive.

On my Journey From Baltimore to NYC

As a graduate of the Baltimore School for the Arts (BSA), I spent years honing my discipline and creativity. Now, I’ve traded the stage for the server room as a freshman at Pace University, where I am majoring in Cybersecurity. I’ve chosen this path because I want to be at the forefront of protecting our digital world, and I’ve been working tirelessly to make the most of my first year in New York City.

As many of you are aware, the landscape for college funding has shifted dramatically. Recent DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) budget cuts within the government and institutional levels have hit many students hard, including myself. These shifts have resulted in unexpected gaps in financial aid and scholarship opportunities that many of us were counting on to get through our degrees.

Right now, I am facing a significant financial hurdle that threatens my ability to finish my freshman year and continuing for the Spring semester.

I am raising funds to cover my remaining tuition and essential educational expenses at Pace. My goal is to stay in the classroom, keep my head in the books, and eventually enter the workforce as a leader in tech. I’ve worked too hard to get here to let a budget cut be the end of my story. Thank you for investing in my education and my future.

With gratitude,

Darion Butts