The chemistry of momentum: LaNyah Terry leads the way for alumni scholars

When LaNyah Terry walks across the stage at Case Western Reserve University’s commencement ceremonies this month, she carries with her the collective pride of the CWRU alumni community. 

As the first student to be supported by the Alumni Association Endowed Scholarship through all four years of her undergraduate career, Terry turned financial support into scientific momentum. By alleviating some of the financial burden of tuition, the scholarship enabled the Bedford, Ohio, native to immerse herself in research and academics. 

Today, she stands as a CWRU-trained scientist ready to tackle a five-year PhD program in chemistry at Virginia Tech, proving the transformative power of philanthropic investment.

Removing the barriers to discovery

For Terry, the dream of attending CWRU was nearly derailed by financial reality. After losing her father in middle school, finances were tight, and her family was unsure if they would be able to afford for her to attend CWRU. 

With her mother's encouragement to attend Case Western Reserve despite the financial challenges, she enrolled in the fall of 2021.

“I don’t come from a very wealthy family, so paying for college was very hard for us,” Terry said. “Each semester, we got together to figure out where we could get the extra funds to pay tuition. There was always that extra pressure of wanting to work during the semester to help cover the financial burden.”

When she and her mother learned she was the recipient of the Alumni Association Endowed Scholarship, financial stress was replaced by the opportunity to engage in academics and research fully.

“With the scholarship, I felt more at ease during the semester,” Terry said. “It took away the stress of covering tuition, so I could just do well in school and focus."

Flexible innovation: From solar cells to wearables

Terry’s studies led her to the Sauvé Research Group in the Department of Chemistry, where, for the past year and a half, she has dedicated her efforts to polymer chemistry research. There, she studies organic polymers for solar cells, aiming to replace rigid silicon panels with versatile alternatives.

“We’re working on making smaller, wearable and flexible electronics,” Terry explained. “The goal is to power devices like a watch with the sun so we aren't relying on lithium batteries or other non-renewable resources.”

Terry’s academic path mirrored the polymers she studies: flexible. Her aptitude for science drew her to chemistry, but an introductory writing course in the university’s former SAGES program sparked her unexpected passion for history. 

She discovered that she really enjoyed history and continued to take additional history classes to provide ‘a break from science’. Building these courses into her schedule, she will also graduate with a minor in history. 

A network of support

One of the hallmarks of the Alumni Association Endowed Scholarship is the direct connection it fosters between students and the alumni who support them. For Terry, this meant regular check-ins with a dedicated group of alumni mentors.

Though initially intimidating, these alumni interactions soon became key to her professional growth. “They’ve been very supportive, giving me guidance and alerting me to opportunities I hadn’t known about,” she said.

Her advice for future recipients: “Don’t be scared of alumni. Connect and communicate—they can help you get to where you want to go.”

As Terry prepares for doctoral studies, she is already mentoring others—she spent her final semester training an undergraduate to continue her solar cell project.

Terry knows being a CWRU alumna goes beyond holding a degree; it means becoming a guide for those following in her footsteps.

“You’re not just an advisor who went to a different college—you have the Case Western Reserve experience,” she said. “You can give much more personalized and better advice because you’ve walked those same halls.”

As Terry begins her alumni experience, her story affirms the university’s commitment to nurturing student potential and turning alumni support into a life-changing opportunity.