Making a Difference

Zachariah Davis is a Milford High School graduate with a weighted 4.36 GPA and plans to attend the University of Cincinnati studying Environmental Science. He will begin his UC career in the UC STEM Summer Bridge program in June.  His goal is to graduate from college debt free. Zachariah has taken 12 AP/Honors courses, received the Academic High Honors Award 3 consecutive years for students receiving a 4.0 GPA, the Outstanding Student Award in Precalculus, and the Eagle All-Academic Team Award for Basketball for 2 yrs. He participates in the INROADS College Links Program, a college and career readiness program, plays basketball for his high school and AAU teams receiving the Sportsmanship Award 2 years, and in the University of Cincinnati Men of Color Summer Engineering Camp. Zach also volunteers as a Milford Youth Boys Basketball coach, supports the Athletic Boosters Craft Show and is employed part-time at the Cinemark Movie Theater as a Team Member. He is very active in The Supreme Council of The Hose of Jacob Church. He grew up in the church playing the drums and saxophone, participates in the Youth Organization serving as Treasurer and Secretary, weeklong Summer Camp for two summers, as well as preparing and selling refreshments after church and during convocation.

Tia Griggs graduated from Winton Woods High School with a weighted 4.28 GPA and is planning to attend The Ohio State University majoring in Marketing. She is highly recommended by her teachers as an outstanding student and student leader. She has earned an A in every course she has taken, including honors or AP courses all four years in English, Math, Science, History and Spanish. Tia has also earned 3.0 credits from the University of Charleston and .5 credits from Cincinnati State. Her extracurricular activities include National Honor Society Secretary for 2 years, Treasurer of Student Council, Tri-M National Honor Society (Music), Orchestra, Theater, and Acapella. She played on the soccer team since 2015; Varsity for four years. Tia has received many honors and achievements in the areas of music, academics, and leadership. She has been a nursing home volunteer at Good News Church of God in Christ and Harrison Pavilion since 2018. She tutors children with reading disabilities at Quinn Chapel. She also works with the Youth Creative Department, Pantry Ministry, and Praise and Worship leader at Good News Church of God in Christ. 

Jaida Knighten is a Winton Woods High School graduate with a 3.88 weighted GPA and plans to attend Bowling Green University studying Athletic Training Health Sciences. She remained on the A/B honor roll, took 10 honors courses and received an Honors Diploma. She is a member of the National Honor Society and the Spanish National Honor Society. Jaida received glowing letters of recommendation from her teachers highlighting her strong work ethic, leadership skills and character. Her extracurricular activities include serving on the Student Council and as a Student Ambassador. She played soccer for 4 years (captain for 2 years), was voted MVP and played basketball for 4 years. She was the recipient of the Skyline Athlete of the Month and Charles Fredrick Sportsmanship Award. She also served as a student aid supporting the football team to prevent and rehab injuries for 2 years. She volunteers at the WWSC Head Start program and assists with distributing food and clothes to the needy. She serves as a Young Life Mentor, is a praise dancer, models positive behaviors and leads by example in her church and at school. Her faith was truly tested when her mother fell ill which only strengthened her relationship with God. Jaida strives to be a Christian leader in the community.

Kiylah Smoot is a Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy graduate with a 3.43 GPA including AP courses. She will attend University of Cincinnati and study Pre-Law. Kiylah received the National Service Ambassador Award for three years for performing more than 1000 service hours. She was the Student Body President and was a member of the Student Organized Service Board for the past 2 years overseeing 5 service groups and leading 4. She is a 4-years varsity basketball player (Captain 3 years / MVP 2 years) and was crowned Homecoming Queen 2 years. As a result of the Black Lives Matter protest, to advocate for people of color, she created Cultural Conversations to voice social issues in her school environment. She is the founder of Armleder Chapel Program, where she speaks to elementary students monthly during chapel. She volunteers at the Walnut Hills Garden, growing free food for the community. Kiylah is involved in Friday Food Fun providing healthy food kits to Walnut Hills residences, the Green Grounds initiative where she picks up trash to address the issues of littering, advocates for affordable housing at the Kemper Lane Apartments and canvasses door-to-door educating others on home equity and homelessness. In her church she founded a Girls Bible Study which meets weekly and has orchestrated food and clothes drives.

Tracie Alston is planning to attend New Brunswick Theological Seminary. She maintained a 3.0 GPA while attending Southwest Raleigh. She has served as a Spanish Interpreter/Translator for Spanish speakers and has volunteered as a Guardian Ad Litem and with Prayer Bridge Ministries, providing food and other items to the Women Center of Raleigh. At church she serves as the Youth Program Coordinator for Outreach Ministries Minister, a Volunteer for the Food Bank and an Instructor for religious classes. She follows the examples of Jesus and loves to plant the seeds in the lives of others and watch them grow into the ways of God. She is a servant of Christ who seeks to grow closer to God.

Trinity Bailey attends Purcell Marion High School. She plans to attend the University of Dayton majoring in Law. She has a 3.7 GPA and has been on the honor roll all four years of high school. She attends Church of the Resurrection. At school she was a Mercy and Purcell Marian Ambassador as well as served on the Yearbook Committee and participated in soccer and basketball. She has volunteered at several programs that support children with critical illnesses and disabilities and that enhance the health and wellness of children and teens.

Morgan Butler has been homeschooled using the Abeka Academy’s rigorous, Christian based curriculum. She plans to attend The Master’s University, a non-denominational, conservative Christian liberal arts university, majoring in Pre-Nursing. She currently has a 4.01 GPA and attends Horizon Bible Church where her father is the Pastor. She has fully dedicated herself to her studies, achieving honor roll three out of four years in high school. She is very active in her church, serving as the Choir Director, Sunday School Teacher and Junior Accountant. 

Kayla Sandidge attends St. Ursula Academy. She plans to attend The King’s College in Manhattan majoring in Humanities & Religious and Theological Studies. She currently has a 3.0 GPA. She began her high school experience with little motivation and little home support; however, she has received first or second honors for the last three years and considers school as her safe place. Along with working almost 40 hours per week during her senior year, she has maintained first honors.

Ronald Darren Thigpen attends Scarlet Oaks through his enrollment at Winton Woods City Schools. He plans to attend University of Cincinnati majoring in Mechanical Engineering Technology. He has been on the A, A/B Honor Roll throughout his high school years. He has received awards for sportsmanship in golf, excellence in Geometry, Science awards, Citizenship and awarded as a Production Manager at Scarlet Oaks. He has held multiple offices in Top Teens of America as well as participated in the Red Cross Leadership Development Camp.

The Helen Lee Gentry Scholarship was pivotal in giving me the foundation and security to not only pursue my dreams but also accomplish them.  When asked to write this statement, I was able to find a copy of the scholarship recommendation letter that was written by my mentor Inyeai Ororokuma.  Reflecting on my dreams that she described in that letter, I am filled with so much gratitude and pride. 

16 years ago, I dreamed of graduating with a double degree in Economics and Spanish from Wellesley College.  I dreamed of studying abroad in Spain, Chile, and the spanish-speaking Carribean.  I dreamed of working in international business.  I even dreamed of going to graduate school to pursue a business degree.

16 years later, I realize that I accomplished all of those things and more.  I graduated with honors, I worked in international business as a risk analyst with clients from all over the world, and I returned to school to receive my Masters in Business Administration.  When I graduated with my MBA, I went on to work at a Fortune 500 consumer product goods company, a major airline, and now I am a Senior Finance Manager for the Surface, Bing, and Edge Marketing teams at Microsoft.  

Business success is not everything, but it is amazing to see what God has blessed me with and the people that I've been able to help along the way with your scholarship.  Your generosity has had ripple effects throughout my family; my nephew has now graduated with honors and was hired by a top consulting firm and members of my family have set goals to travel and done so, inspired by the opportunities that I pursued.

Sincerely, I offer a THANK YOU to the Helen Lee Gentry scholarship for your generous support of a young, African American woman who had big dreams and humble beginnings.  

Jane Harris  Wellesley College, B.A.

University of North Carolina, Kenan-Flagler Business School, M.B.A.

 Nia Heard was selected to receive a $1,000.00 scholarship.  Ms Heard attended Spelman College.  She achieved a 3.67 while attending St Ursula and  maintained 3.4 while attending Spelman. She has been on the Dean's list since her freshman year. She participated in the Paradigm Dance Team, Spelman Spanish Club, Project Coordinator for the National Association of Minority Medical Education, many volunteer activities and researcher at local hospitals.  She also serves as a lector, role model, president of the youth group and Parrish Council secretary at St. Andrews Church.