Star Scholar

From winning a regional championship with the Malcolm X College Lady Hawks to earning her associate degree and transferring to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Tyla Allen has soared to success—both on and off the basketball court.

Read Tyla’s story in her own words below:

I started at Malcolm X College in Fall 2018 as a first-year college student, hoping to continue my passion for basketball and focus on my academics. I was fortunate to receive the Star Scholarship, which allowed me to attend school without a financial burden and offered me additional academic opportunities.

As a Star Scholar, I embraced the expectations of the scholarship. I maintained an outstanding GPA, sought out many learning opportunities, and became a member of multiple scholar programs, including Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, One Million Degrees (OMD), and Transfer Scholars. These programs enabled me to interact, learn, and gain valuable skills that contributed to my success at Malcolm X and beyond.

In addition to the Star Scholarship, another defining aspect of my experience at Malcolm X was being a part of the women’s basketball team. During the two years I played, I developed my character and helped lead my team to a regional championship in 2020. Within the basketball program were coaching staff and teammates that played a valuable role in my personal development. It was an honor to be a part of something so special—something that allowed me to gain valuable skills that will last a lifetime.

I graduated from Malcolm X College in Spring 2020 with an Associate of Arts degree focused in Psychology. From there, I decided to continue my education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where I am expected to graduate in Spring 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. After graduation, I plan to intern at a law firm and potentially attend law school in Fall 2023.

These successes are exciting, but they’re not only important to me—they’re important to those around me as well. The support I received from my advisors and peers built the foundation I needed in order to be successful at school. For that reason, I’m honored to call myself a Lady Hawk and a Malcolm X alumna.

No matter where I go next, MXC will forever be a place I call home.