On any given day, senior Mia Haynes might be found driving to the hoop as a starting guard on Worcester State’s women’s basketball team. If not in the gym, she might be organizing faith-based fun on campus as president of the Christian Fellowship Club. When she’s not fulfilling her duties as either an athlete or club leader, she’s most likely deep in reading, as required of any English major with aspirations of becoming an educator.
“I came to Worcester State University because of all the opportunities the school offers,” she said. “We have all the sports, all the clubs, and excellent academics on top of it all.”
To juggle all of this successfully, Mia must manage a jam-packed schedule that requires her absolute focus. Day-in and day-out, she’s able to manage her hectic calendar because she doesn’t presently have to worry about work. While other students must divide their time between academics and jobs, Mia is able to dedicate all of her effort, energy, and attention to campus life. And she’s able to do that thanks in large part to the transformative power of scholarship support. For that, she knows she’s lucky.
“Scholarships are so important because they allow students to actually enjoy their time on campus, and at the same time prepare for their careers,” she said. “For me, scholarships have allowed me to play basketball and get involved in other extracurricular activities, instead of having to work year-round. Scholarships take the pressure off of students so they can apply all their focus on their academics, their athletics, or whatever they’re invested in.”
A Worcester native set to graduate in 2027, Mia is complementing her English major with a minor in secondary education. This, she said, will help her pass her licensure exams to step right back into the classroom after graduating.
Mia Haynes, fifth from left, mingles with a number of her scholarship donors at the annual Scholarship Brunch.
Befitting her love of sports, she said she also plans to pursue coaching or refereeing basketball once she’s out in the working world. Her hope is to pass on to the next generation the life lessons of teamwork and discipline she herself learned on the court. It’s a philosophy of giving back she has seen modeled directly by her scholarship donors.
“I’ve been fortunate to meet a few of the people who have made my scholarships possible,” she said. “Some of them are educators themselves. I see in them hope for my own future.”
Mia is the second in her family to attend Worcester State, following in her brother Micah Haynes’ footsteps. This is a point of pride for Andy Haynes, their father, who said he’s been additionally impressed by Mia’s drive to go after the support she needs. To that end, Mia has received five separate scholarships, including gifts established by alumni in classes from the ’1950s, ’60s, and ’70s.
“Mia has stood up on her own, put herself out there, applied for scholarships, and applied herself to the college experience all the way around,” said Andy. “It’s been humbling to see people’s generosity in supporting Mia. It’s been equally humbling to see Mia’s drive and determination to go after her dreams.”
This story appeared in the 2026 Donor Impact Statement.
