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For Mya Murphy, postponing college would have been the easy choice. Instead, the 2022 First Flight High School graduate fast-tracked her education—with crucial support from the Outer Banks Community Foundation (OBCF).

“All I ever really wanted to do was go to ECU, wear those purple scrubs, and get my nursing degree,” said Mya. Financial challenges made that dream daunting, but two OBCF scholarships—the Elizabeth and Wayne Evans Scholarship and the Osborne Scholarship—helped pave her way.

Just as she was preparing for her nursing program admission, life took an unexpected turn—she was pregnant. Recognizing the difficulty of attending ECU without nearby family, Mya moved home, completing prerequisites through community college while preparing for motherhood.

After welcoming her daughter Addilyn in December 2023, Mya discovered the Accelerated Nursing Program at Averett University in Norfolk, Virginia. Unsure if her scholarships would still apply, she reached out to OBCF, which reaffirmed its commitment to supporting her journey.

“Since Averett was an accredited program, the Community Foundation was able to keep funding me,” said Mya. “They’ve been incredibly supportive through it all.”

The full Outer Banks Community Foundation story by Steve Hanf about Mya Murphy can be found online at obcf.org/mya-murphy/.

Balancing coursework, clinicals and family—including a wedding in 2024—Mya is on track to earn her nursing degree this summer. She hopes to become a labor and delivery nurse, giving back to others the same care she once received.

As the next wave of scholarship applicants awaits their awards, Mya’s story stands as a testament to perseverance, adaptability and the power of community support.

For more information, go to OBCF.org/scholarships.

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