Heaven Newson's Journey with Choose901 Alumni

“The Choose901 Alumni Program has given me both social and career opportunities to grow and develop. In viewing my work and academic life from high school to now, I can definitely say that the program has been there to help me in any way possible, and it has meant a lot.”
– Heaven Newson, Choose901 Alumni

Heaven Newson is a graduate of both New Hope Christian Academy and Collegiate School of Memphis, two partner schools of Give901 and Choose901 Alumni. Since her high school graduation, she’s been an active participant in the Choose901 Alumni Program, which provides mentorship and support to students for up to ten years after high school graduation. “I always felt welcomed and accepted to engage with the program and would attend events whenever I could while I was home from school,” she reflects. “Additionally, the Alumni team would visit me in Nashville, and that made such a difference during my college years.”

Heaven recently earned her Bachelor’s degree in Medicine, Health, and Society from Vanderbilt University and now serves as a Church Health Scholar. Her dream is to become a physician focused on equitable care for underrepresented communities. “I wanted to expand upon the impactful experiences I had in the medical community, and the Choose901 Alumni program connected me with Church Health,” she explains. “This experience exposed me to a practical approach to equitable access to healthcare. It reaffirmed my belief that medicine is only part of the roadmap to a healthy lifestyle and fueled my passion to provide such care.”

Heaven’s summer with Church Health, facilitated through the Choose901 NexGen Fellowship, allowed her to gain invaluable experience in a healthcare setting. “The program gave me insight into making sound financial decisions, and it boosted my confidence in interviewing and communicating effectively in a work environment,” she says.

She was also featured in the Daily Memphian about her year with Church Health. You can read more about her journey here.

Heaven’s experience didn’t just stop with healthcare exposure. “I’ve formed wonderful connections and developed professionally and personally as a result of these services,” she states, crediting the Alumni Program for offering resume-building support, interview tips, and broader networking opportunities.

“The program’s support has been instrumental in my journey, and I am excited about the future and the impact I can make in the medical field,” Heaven concludes.