NCAE Announces Its 2023 Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Recipients
Four North Carolina high school seniors are recipients of 2023 NCAE Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarships. Presented by the Human and Civil Rights Commission, each student will receive $2,000 to provide financial assistance to further their education beyond high school. Money for the scholarships was donated by NCAE members, staff and public education supporters. Selection criteria for students include scholastic achievement, character and personality. In these brief descriptions, the students share how their lives have been influenced by the ideals and philosophies of Dr. King.
Safa Akhter, City of Medicine Academy in Durham County
Dr. King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” and his ideologies have had a profound effect on Safa, who is trying to emulate the love and resilience he showed throughout his lifetime. “I am awestruck by his mindset. I want to be someone who can be as loving and understanding as he was but still powerful. Like me, he experienced anger, but did not let it corrupt his heart. I want to be able to do this. His resilience and love are something I want in my life.”
Safa, who survived a traumatic experience when she was younger, wants to become someone her abusers never imagined her to be. She is invested in her education and excels in her classes. She has a 4.42 weighted GPA and ranks eighth in her class. Her plans are to study biochemistry at either Wayne State University, the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, or UNC-Charlotte. She dream is to become a physician/surgeon.
Described as polite, respectful, amazing and a hard worker, Safa works a job in addition to keeping up with her studies. She is an AP Scholar, a member of the A Honor Roll, a recipient of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Award for Excellence, and a district level Governor’s School nominee. She is also involved in various extracurricular activities.
Victoria Hall, Leesville Road High School in Wake County
Victoria wants to study business and has been accepted at UNC-Chapel Hill, the University of South Carolina, and N.C. State University. Her goal is to someday become an attorney. She has a 4.5952/4.0 weighted GPA and was a 2023 semi-finalist for the national Merit Competition, an AP Scholar of Distinction, and has been Student of the Year in several academic categories. She is treasurer of the International Thespian Society, a member of the Math National Honor Society, and volunteers at the Pine Hollow Middle School Library.
Described as a strong leader with an admirable work ethic, Victoria has a thirst for reading and learning. On one side of her family, she will be the first grandchild to attend college, and on the other she will be the fourth generation of women to attend an institution of higher learning. A social studies teacher said of her, “From day one, Victoria approached each class with an optimistic attitude. While many students spend their first weeks feeling out the class before they decide to raise their hand and contribute to discussion, Victoria participated in every class, and brought a unique perspective to discussions and debates.”
Following the philosophies of Dr. King have led Victoria to an intense commitment and engagement with her community and the knowledge that she can work against injustice. “I saw human suffering from a distance as a child but had no idea I was witnessing the effects of what Dr. King referred to as the ‘triple evils’ – poverty, racism and militarism manifesting in my community. Like many children, my initial reaction to the inherent injustices was anger. But my anger soon gave way to action.” And because of her actions, she built a Little Free Library for her neighborhood after the local library was destroyed by fire, led food drives, organized tutors for middle school students, and created a service project recycling crayons to address environmental waste and lack of art supplies in local schools.
Cai Parks, West Stokes High School in Stokes County
Committed, likeable, inclusive and an outstanding individual who excels in both his academic and personal pursuits have been used to describe Cai, who has dreams of becoming an engineer. He plans to study mechanical engineering and has been accepted to study at either Purdue University, Virginia Tech or UNC-Charlotte. “Cai is an absolute joy to teach,” said his Spanish teacher. “He is intrigued by new ideas and cultures and goes above and beyond the curriculum and all scholastic expectations. He shared with me that his goal in life is to become an engineer and go to outer space. Of the thousands of students I have taught over the past 10 years, I think he is the most likely to accomplish these goals.” Cai ranks as one of the top five students in his class.
Cai commented that he has always strived to challenge himself. At school, he is president of Youth and Government, president of the Student Government Association, president of the National Honor Society, and is a member of Students Against Destructive Decisions. He is also senior patrol leader of his Boy Scout troop, works a part-time job, and has found time for activities such as powerlifting and fostering kittens.
The ideals of Dr. King, Cai added, have greatly impacted his views of the world and how he lives his life. “Dr. King’s philosophies reshaped the entire world. I strive to continue this shared goal. Living in a small, rural community, discrimination has been an issue that I have often seen throughout my life. I always fight to stop prejudice and have always tried to stand up against bullying. I have fought to make myself the best person I can be, and I intend to help my community in the future through service and donating back to rural education because education should not be limited by one’s financial or home situation.”
Landry Smith, Lenoir County Early College High School in Lenoir County
Landry said the philosophies and values of Dr. King are concepts she utilizes in her everyday life. “I use my voice to speak up for what is right, just as Dr. King did. As a black woman who wants to work in a field dominated by white males, I intend to help make a difference in the underrepresentation of female minorities in STEM. There is more work to be done for the black community, and I hope to continue making an impact.”
She is seeking a career in biomedical engineering and has been accepted at North Carolina A&T State University and East Carolina University. She has also applied to Florida A&M University. Described as confident, outgoing, and as a phenomenal student who values education, Landry will not only receive her high school diploma upon graduation but will also earn an associate’s degree.
Receiving stellar grades is Landry’s primary focus. However, she is also very involved in extracurricular activities at school and in her community. She is a member of the Student Government Association, is vice president of the Early College Rotary Interact Club, is a math tutor and serves as a mentor. She is a social media marketer for her church, and has volunteered for the American Red Cross, the SPCA Pet Food Drive, and has helped coordinate a Teacher Appreciation Project and Black History Month display. Some of the honors/awards she has received include the National Society of High School Scholars Award of Excellence and having her poem “Stay Golden, Black Girl” published by the America Library of Poetry.
