Published January 2013
Youth Action is excited to announce its second cohort of recipients of the Ann C. Phillips Scholarship Fund. Sponsored by the Stafford Foundation the scholarship fund has awarded individual $1,000 scholarships to five deserving 2012 high school graduates in the Greater Philadelphia area. The selection committee was impressed with their commitment to academic excellence, leadership, and community service. This scholarship acknowledges that the selected students will continue their success in these areas during their college career and beyond.
Youth Action Scholarship Committee member and supporter Ms. Paulette Wilson-Jernigan says “it was a pleasure being part of the scholarship selection committee. It’s encouraging to know how many wonderful and intelligent students we have here in Philadelphia. I was very impressed with the GPA levels however, it was wonderful knowing that these student still made time to give of themselves by volunteering their time to help others.”
Youth Action members and supporters established the Ann C. Phillips Scholarship Fund to commemorate the life and legacy of Ann Phillips, a beloved friend and Youth Action Ally who until her death in 2010 offered professional guidance and many contributions to Youth Action since its founding in 2003. It is the first such scholarship honoring an individual who has been associated with Youth Action.
Here are the profiles of the five scholarship recipients:
Mariah Carpenter of North Philadelphia is a graduate of John W. Hallahan High School and currently a freshman at La Salle University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In high school, Mariah was actively involved with the Girl Scouts. For her extensive involvement in the Philadelphia community, the Girl Scouts honored her with their Gold Award for service. As a student at Hallahan, Mariah participated on her school’s basketball and track teams. She was also the Co-Leader of their African American Student Association. Mariah challenged herself academically by enrolling in several of her school’s advancement placement courses. In the future, Mariah hopes to become a nurse. Mariah notes that she is “grateful to be honored with Youth Action’s Ann C. Phillips Scholarship. I’d like to thank the Youth Action organization and my other mentors/supporters for providing myself and others throughout Philadelphia with opportunities to promote self-sufficiency and leadership qualities.”
Jalia Harris of Elkins Park, PA is a graduate of Cheltenham High School and a freshman at La Salle University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Harris was a member of the Black Scholars program for Scholastic Achievement at Cheltenham High School. There she participated in Cheltenham High School’s Marching Band where she was awarded the most valuable Flutist award. At Cheltenham, she also was a percussionist as well as a manager for her school’s Color Guard. Jalia is an aspiring nurse. When it comes to community service Jalia believes that “strong community involvement and leadership help in the success of the overall community. When strong leaders in the community mentor and lead by example, other members of the community will want to follow their positive actions. This will then lead to positive and successful lifestyles within the community, particularly the younger generation.”
Alpha Kanu of Southwest Philadelphia is a graduate of Benjamin Franklin High School and a first year student at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Born in Sierra Leone, Alpha came to the U.S. with a desire to succeed. In high school, Alpha a honor roll student, served as a Youth Ambassador with the Philadelphia Youth Network, a member of the Philadelphia Student Union, Vice-President of his senior class, and was selected to participate in the his school’s Student Success Center’s Leadership Academy. As the Vice-President of the Kappa League, Alpha participated in several leadership workshops and volunteer projects with his Kappa mentors. Alpha plans to pursue a career as an engineer. Alpha states “this scholarship means a lot to me because I can use it to cover my financial expenses. I only recently realized how expensive education is and most people can’t afford an education but with the help of this organization I can overcome this obstacle. This money makes a difference. Words can’t explain my appreciation to you.”
Kayla Shuler of Northwest Philadelphia is a graduate of the Creative and Performing Arts High School of Philadelphia and a freshman at Howard University in Washington, DC. At CAPA, Kayla was very involvedi n dance and
performed at several holiday parades. She was a cheerleading coach for the Police Athletic League and a teaching assistant at the Brenda Lee Dance Company. At Howard, she is a member of the Bisonette Dance Ensemble and a member of L.E.A.D., an academic and leadership development program for high school students in DC. Currently she is majoring in supply chain management and after Howard Kayla plans to open several dance studios for children in Philadelphia. Kayla writes “without scholarship patrons like you, there would be many students such as myself unable to pursue the career they’ve dreamed of. By awarding me Youth Action’s Ann C. Phillips Scholarship, you have lightened my financial burden which allows me to focus more on the most important aspect of school, learning. Your generosity has inspired me to help others and give back to the community. I hope one day I will be able to help students achieve their goals just as you have helped me.”
Satiecka Walker of North Philadelphia is a graduate of Kensington Creative and Performing Arts High School of Philadelphia and a freshman at Mansfield University of Pennsylvania in Mansfield, PA. When Satiecka’s mother passed away in middle school, she used this painful experience as “motivation to succeed.” In high school, Satiecka performed in several musicals including starring as Dorothy in the Wiz and singing in the Nutcracker. She was actively involved with her school’s chapter of Youth United for Change. She was an honor roll student, a White Williams Scholar, as well as a recipient of her school’s humanitarian award for service. Satiecka majors in political science and aspires to become a lawyer. Satiecka acknowledges that she “would have never known that it would take losing her mother to be reborn into a beacon of hope and light. Who would have thought that the loss of my mother would instill me to overcome another day. Excelling was not a plan or goal; it just came natural to me.” For more information about Youth Action, visit www.youthactionteam.org. Also like us on facebook www.facebook.com/teamyouthaction and follow us on twitter www.twitter.com/teamyouthaction