It wasn’t in the article I referenced but I remember in another article they stated that the student had received other scholarships. So I’m going to guess that she had already received any money that would have exempted her from work study.
I get that Harvard likes kids that are go getters and leaders, but giving away money that would give you personally no benefit? It’s nice publicity. But helping other students is a very nice gesture. Hopefully in the future, she will be able to donate to her alma maters endowments