About the Fund
The Kiyomi D. Harper ODK Scholarship Fund supports members of the Sigma Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa with a preference for members who have distinguished themselves through leadership within the Circle. The Scholarship was established in 2017 by Khalil Pettus '15 (ODK President 2014-2015) in honor of his mother.
"The University of Maryland has and continues to invest in my growth and development. The benefits I’ve enjoyed are a large reason why I’m privileged and fortunate enough to be in the position to give back and pay it forward for future students. I felt like the ODK Scholarship Fund was the perfect way to give back, while at the same time honoring and showing appreciation to my beloved mother – the most impactful driving force in my life, particularly as it relates to education. The power of education should never be underestimated in enabling one to realize his or her dream. As such, I hope this gift to support the Kiyomi Harper ODK Scholarship Fund will help equip future students to achieve their hopes and aspirations." - Khalil Pettus
How to Apply
For more information on how to apply to the Kiyomi D. Harper ODK Scholarship Fund, please contact us at sagiving@umd.edu or 301-314-4900.
Meet Our Scholars
Parsa Sedghi is a junior at the University of Maryland pursuing dual degrees in Computer Science and Operations Management & Business Analytics, with a minor in Cybersecurity. As a member of the Honors College and QUEST Honors Program, Parsa has had the opportunity to work on real-world consulting projects, lead student organizations, and collaborate with students from diverse disciplines. He serves as a Director of Hack4Impact-UMD, where he helps bridge the gap between technology and social impact. Parsa is also a Pell Grant recipient, which has pushed me to balance multiple internships at Meta, BlackRock, and UMD's Division of IT while supporting his family's small business in Annapolis year round (the Red Bean coffee and ice cream).
Parsa Sedghi
2025-2026 Scholar
Past Scholars
Jahnavi Kirkire (2024-2025 Scholar)
Jahnavi (she/her/hers) is pursuing a dual degree in Government & Politics - International Relations and Public Policy, minoring in History and Law & Society. A student leader in BridgeUMD, ODK, and the Honors College, Jahnavi hopes to attend law school and eventually work for the State Department. She hopes to pursue a career in international affairs in the future and aims to work on global diplomacy.
Meghana Kotraiah (2023-2024 Scholar)
Meghana Kotraiah (she/her) is a junior pursuing a dual degree in Government & Politics and Agricultural & Resource Economics from Gaithersburg, Maryland. She is heavily involved on campus with the Student Government Association and Student Alumni Leadership Council, as well as as a campus tour guide and Sigma Alpha professional agricultural sorority sister. She is also engaged with College of AGNR student leadership, as a student ambassador, member of the Dean's Student Advisory Council, and undergraduate representative to the DEIR Council. Meghana is interested in pursuing a career in agricultural or natural resources policy!
Renee Paulraj (2021-2022 Scholar)
Renee Paulraj
2021-2022 Scholar
Shoham Ghosh (2020-2021 Scholar)
Shoham Ghosh
2020-2021 Scholar
Jacqueline Deprey (2018-2019 scholar)
Jacqueline Deprey is a junior from Rockville, Maryland pursuing a dual degree in Computer Science, Operations Management and Business Analytics. This ODK Digital Communications Chair and QUEST Honors Program mentor spends her free time running marathons, competing and serving on the executive board for Maryland Survivor, tutoring through the Maryland Center for Women in Computing as the CMSC132 Guided Study Session Lead, and giving tours of campus as a Maryland Images Campus Tour Guide. Jacqueline is especially involved in the Gemstone Honors Program where she serves as a the Financial Liaison for her research team, GEMS100/102/202 Section Leader, Gems Camp Orientation Leader and a Freshmen Connect Mentor. After graduating in May 2020, Jacqueline plans to pursue a career in software engineering or technical project management before pursuing a graduate degree.
Doron Tadmor (2017-2018 scholar)
Doron Tadmor
is pursuing a double major in International Business and Operations Management & Business Analytics at the Smith School of Business, University of Maryland. In addition to his high academic standing, he is part of the QUEST Honors Program, and a member of both the Honors Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program and the Business Honors Program. He has interned previously with the US Department of the Treasury, where he gained experience in working with international trade and multilateral development banks and was tasked with evaluating 39 country development projects, totaling $3.4 billion. He currently serves as the Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs for the University of Maryland's student body where he makes sure the needs of all 30,000 students are met working with six departments on campus as well as the City of College Park. He also serves as a member on the Smith School's student body where he oversees undergraduate bylaws and collaborates with the Dean to pursue new initiatives improving the business program. His professional goals include completing graduate degrees in Business and Law. Doron will then be prepared to focus on, and contribute to, the economic improvement of Latin America through social entrepreneurship.
Sade Ayinde (2016-2017 scholar)
Sade Ayinde is a IVSP major studying development economics with a minor in mathematics. As a SURE undergraduate research fellow, her work focuses on educational returns in informal and formal sector labor force participation in the Nigerian economy. Ayinde is a Princeton PPIA Fellow and a Rosalie Reilly Public Policy fellow. In her free time, Sade enjoys working with first-generation, low-income underclassmen students through her mentoring program, Student to Scholar. After graduation, she hopes to seek graduate study in applied economics. Her professional goals include working in social impact and economic growth in sub-saharan Africa.