Tamara Ellerbe is that guiding light at Manor College. She’s often found in the cafeteria hanging with friends or helping in Manny’s Market.

A social gravitational pull accompanies her warm personality. People seek Ellerbe out just to talk about a problem or excitedly unveil their latest achievement.

For Ellerbe, her extroversion isn’t a learned skill, it’s ingrained in the fabric of her identity. After all, her father, William Perry, was the same way. 

Ellerbe’s favorite memories are when no one was around. Perry would throw a vinyl record on the player – usually The Temptations, The Whisperers or The Stylistics – and he’d dance with her. He’d pick her up and sing “Isn’t She Lovely” by Stevie Wonder. To this day, the song still makes her cry. 

In July 2012, when Ellerbe was only 12, Perry was diagnosed with Cirrhosis of the liver. He went through dialysis and got a liver transplant. Unfortunately, he died two years later. 

On the day he died, Ellerbe went to visit him in the hospital. It was “the best and worst experience,” she said. 

After his death, the community rallied around Ellerbe. 

If Ellerbe’s personality came from her father, she got her drive from her mother. Tonya works for a cleaning service in the Philadelphia area. It was Tonya who made sure Ellerbe believed in an education. 

While at Murrell Dobbins CTE Technical High School in Philadelphia, a college counselor talked to Ellerbe about Manor College. At the time, Ellerbe’s friends were looking at larger colleges, but the counselor believed she needed to be in a smaller environment. 

The high school took a tour of Manor College, where Ellerbe met Jessica Zsoldos, the current Director of Admissions. 

Now, giving tours of her own to potential students, Ellerbe reflects on her own experience. 

“There’s a saying you hear that in college, professors aren’t going to hold your hand, and that’s true,” Ellerbe said. “At Manor, they’re not going to hold your hand, but you know they want to help you succeed and will do everything to make that happen.” 

During her time at Manor, Ellerbe became a Presidential Ambassador and a member of Rotaract and Student Senate. In January 2024, she became the first woman of color to receive the Mother Josaphat Medal, the institution’s highest honor.

She additionally received the Kyle McIntosh Memorial Award in April, given to a student who embodies the spirit, energy, kindness, and love of Manor. 

She will graduate in May with her Bachelor’s degree in Health Services. It’s a bittersweet moment. Ellerbe, a first-generation college student, often thinks about Tonya when thinking about graduation. 

“I met so many people I never thought I would have met,” Ellerbe said. “I just fell in love with this place. I made a family here.”

Read more about Tamara Ellerbe’s college career on Manor College’s website.

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