Onyx Gaston takes education seriously.
When asked if she had any strong mentors, she quickly acknowledged her parents. Then, without missing a beat, she named Ida B. Wells—the pioneering American investigative journalist, educator, and early civil rights leader who co-founded the NAACP.
Wells was born nearly 150 years before Gaston. Among the many things Wells is known for, it was her commitment to education that stood out most to Gaston.
“She was a proponent of embracing quality education for everyone,” Gaston said.
In many ways, Gaston embodies Wells’ philosophy, passion, and courage.
A senior at Sarasota Military Academy, Gaston has proven herself a leader. By the time this article is published, she will have graduated. During her time at SMA, she served as Battalion XO, maintaining close contact with juniors and seniors in her battalion. She also served in student government and played on the softball team.
“I’m good with people,” she said—an observation backed by the respect her peers show her.
As an only child, Gaston developed a strong sense of independence early on. Her father, an attorney, helped foster her confidence and love for spirited conversation. In high school, she found a home in debate and realized how much she valued having a voice—and using it.
“Education gives me personally an opportunity to achieve more than just being smart,” she said. “It will help me and other people to achieve higher goals. Education helps you to help others.”
Gaston knows firsthand how critical support can be.
As a junior, she began working with Education Foundation Student Success Coach Diana Berris. Initially focused on college preparation, their conversations deepened into aspirations and ideas. Gaston recognized that the knowledge and resources she was gaining could also help her peers—especially those who might not have the same level of access.
Within six months, Gaston launched her own nonprofit: African American Students for Diversity in Higher Education (AADHE). Her goal is to help students prepare for college admissions and future careers. While open to students of all races, AADHE places a special emphasis on helping students of color navigate the evolving landscape of higher education and reach their goals.
Judging by the level of engagement in her Q&A forum, there’s no shortage of students eager to pursue postsecondary education who look to Gaston for guidance. She points them to scholarships, walks them through college and trade school applications, offers job-seeking advice, and gives tips for writing essays.
One of AADHE’s standout features is the WOW Factor program, which helps students identify and communicate what makes them unique. The program encourages self-reflection with questions like:
- How do you make a difference in your community?
- What do you mean to your family?
- What personal qualities make you great to be around?
- What are your goals and aspirations?
These types of differentiators in a college essay or a job interview, Gaston believes, can help shape a student’s future. She’s applied this approach to her own life as well.
This fall, Gaston will attend the University of Pennsylvania, where she plans to study political science with the goal of attending law school. She noted that she is one of the 3,580 students accepted out of 72,000 applicants, and to her knowledge the only student from Sarasota County that was admitted to the University of Pennsylvania. She intends to continue growing her nonprofit and hopes to expand services this summer to include SAT and ACT preparation.
Education helps you help others. For Gaston, it’s more than a sentence—it’s a way of life. Like Ida B. Wells, she wears many hats: student, founder, advocate. And most recently, Ivy Leaguer.