The Tavis Smiley Foundation (TSF) has awarded three Youth Action members with scholarships for their academic achievement, leadership, and service to Philadelphia. Each student has received a $5,000 scholarship. Recently, the Tavis Smiley Foundation selected YA members Kelly Smith of Northwest Philadelphia, Aja Thornton of West Philadelphia, and Milan Davis of Elkins Park, PA to receive Smiley Scholarships.
To become Smiley Scholars, Aja, Kelly, and Milan were selected from a competitive applicant pool of students who have done exceptional work in the classroom and in their communities.
“I’m very excited about their future as leaders and this scholarship will aid them in meeting their life goals” says Youth Action Team President Anthony Phillips. “They have demonstrated a passion for service, academic excellence, and are dedicated to leadership and social change in communities. We need leaders who are intelligent and selfless. They are this type of leader and more.”
Milan Davis of Elkins Park, PA is a graduate Cheltenham High School and currently a freshman at Hampton University in Virginia. As a student at Cheltenham, Milan enrolled herself in academic programs such as Advance Placement courses, Temple University’s Physician Science Program, and a member of the Allied Health Program for Arts and Technology. She was also a member of her school’s Cheerleading Team, Dance Team Captain, and African American Student League. Furthermore, she participated in her church’s Youth Usher Board and Choir. In addition, Milan has served her community through her involvement with Youth Action where she was a Junior Youth Action mentor to elementary and middle school children. Milan one day hopes to become a nurse.
Kelly Smith of Northwest Philadelphia is a graduate of the Philadelphia High School for Business and Technology and is currently a freshman at Bloomsbury University of Pennsylvania. Kelly served as the Vice-President of her school’s Future Business Leaders of America Chapter and a member of her school’s graduation and yearbook committees. She participated as a member of Youth Action and served as a coordinator for the team’s Governance Committee. For her extensive involvement in the community, Kelly is also the recipient of Comcast’s Leaders and Achiever Scholarship. She plans to pursue a career in information technology and business management.
Aja Thornton is a graduate of the Friends’ Central School in Wynnewood, PA where she was a Wynnefield Scholar and is currently a freshman at the University of Southern California (USC). During her time at Friends’, she served on the Student Council, president of the Black Student Forum, and Student Admissions Committee at her school. As a member of Youth Action, Aja served as the Director of the team’s Junior Youth Action program, in which she helped to develop a program for children ages 8-13. At USC, she majors in communications and hopes to pursue a career in public relations.