She chose to be a Flyer

Any school, anywhere in the country — Destiny Watson ’20 had her pick of full-ride scholarship offers. She wanted to be a Flyer, and that choice continues to form how she serves her communities at home and at UD.

“I chose the University of Dayton because, honestly, it felt like home right from the moment I stepped on campus during my school search,” Watson said. “I had no idea about the school until they sent me this info in the mail, and it said something like ‘change the world here.’ That really caught my attention because it aligned perfectly with the work I was doing with my nonprofit, You Matter 2. It’s all about making a positive impact, and I felt like UD was the perfect place to continue that mission.”

Years earlier, at just 16, Watson founded the nonprofit to encourage her peers to become involved in service. What started as a small after-school service club has evolved and grown. You Matter 2 now serves sixth through 12th grade students in Chicago’s south suburbs by providing them with opportunities to engage in service-learning, mindfulness and social justice projects with a focus on advancing racial equity and developing life skills, such as financial literacy and entrepreneurship.

“Our goal is to ensure that every youth understands their intrinsic worth, sees the possibilities before them, and believes in their potential to make a difference.”

“Our goal is to ensure that every youth understands their intrinsic worth, sees the possibilities before them, and believes in their potential to make a difference,” she said.

While rooted in Chicago, Watson’s passion for service flourished on the UD campus and has continued to do so as an active and engaged alumna since graduating with her degree in human rights studies in 2020.

“I continue to stay involved with UD by serving on the Black Alumni Executive Committee, serving as a voice for Black alumni and students, as well as organizing the Black Alumni Reunion,” she said.

She is among the more than 2,300 new volunteers who are leading in defined roles for UD during the We Soar campaign. The University’s campaign goal for volunteer participation is 2,800.

Watson also attends UD events in Chicago to share her experience with prospective students and remains involved with the Multi-Ethnic Education and Engagement Center by serving as a MEC mentor to current students. Through You Matter 2’s Discover U program, she brought 25 high school students to tour the University. 

“I have loved watching the University grow over the years and want to continue to be a part of the amazing things happening at UD.” 

“It’s important for me to stay involved in UD because I really enjoyed my time on campus and want to be a part of current students’ experience to ensure they have the support and resources they need, especially from alumni,” she said. “I have loved watching the University grow over the years and want to continue to be a part of the amazing things happening at UD.”