Transcript 2003 Scholarship Winners - AAHRA

2003 Scholarship
Winners
Alice Esslinger
Alice Esslinger
 Huntsville
“ Education will empower me with confidence ... and encourage me
to envision the progress that can be made in promoting peace in the
world.”
 Allie received an AAHRA Scholarship in 2002, and with it enrolled in the
University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. She is majoring in International
Relations, and has career goals in the diplomatic field. She is active in
the Blount Undergraduate Initiative, the University Honors Program, the
International Honors Program, and assistant director for Alabama
Action. She helps lead softball clinics, is a mentor, and is a member of
the Model UN, HPSA, LSA, Presbyterian Student Association, and the
National Collegiate Scholarship Committee — among other activities
and organizations. Her current GPA is 3.7, she earned a 30 on the ACT,
and a 1310 on the SAT.
Allie is the daughter of Debbie Esslinger, the Family Self-Sufficiency
Coordinator for the Huntsville Housing
Authority.
Destin Lindsey Flippo
Destin Lindsey Flippo
 Guin
“ I believe through hard work and determination, I can achieve my
goal.”
 Destin will attend the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, and plans
to major in Biology. Her goal is to one day become an orthodontist
and open a clinic in her home town of Guin. Destin graduated from
Marion County High School with a 3.9 GPA, and earned a 22 on the
ACT. She’s earned the Presidential Academic Award, Outstanding
Academic Award, and a member of the National Honor Roll,
National Beta Club, Talent Search, and Who’s Who Among
American High School Students. She served on the yearbook staff,
and was very active in her community helping raise money for the
American Cancer Society, The Muscular Dystrophy Foundation and
Santa’s Workshop. Destin also worked part-time at a real estate
office after school. Destin is the daughter of Tammy Bozeman,
resident of the Guin Housing Authority.
Neamon LaShun Rudolph
Neamon LaShun Rudolph
 Montgomery
“ Having to raise my children without a college degree ... helped me to
realize that education is a key success factor in attaining my goals.”
 Neamon, the mother of three, is currently enrolled in the Adult Education
Program at Faulkner University in Montgomery, majoring in Criminal Justice.
Her goal is to become a lawyer, and perhaps to one day serve on the
Alabama Supreme Court. She also wants very much to position herself to
give back to her community by providing youth activities and scholarship
programs so that others who’ve faced difficulties will be able to work toward
their goals just as she is doing. Neamon is a parent volunteer for Girl Scouts,
an adult advisor on the First Baptist Church Youth Advisory Committee, vicepresident of the Young Adult Choir, and received an honor as ‘Parent of the
Month’ from McKee Elementary School. She is an active participant in the
Montgomery Housing Authority’s Family Self-Sufficiency Program, and is
currently employed at Auburn University-Montgomery.
Sharon Denise Keener
Sharon Denise Keener
 Tarrant
“ All of the hard work ... is worth it when compared to the
possibilities that will be available to me.”
 Sharon plans to attend the Savannah College of Art and
Design in Savannah, Georgia. Her goal is to become a
professional computer animator. Sharon graduated as
Salutatorian of Tarrant High School with a 4.0 GPA, earned
a 30 on the ACT, and a 1330 on the SAT. She served as the
vice-president of the SchoolImprovement Club, member
of the National Honor Society, Art Club and Photography
Club - among other clubs and activities. She received
academic honors including the Principle’s List, ‘A’ Honor
Roll, and Awards for Excellence in History and Art. Sharon
is the daughter of Mary Keener, resident of the Tarrant
Housing Authority, and Louie R. Keener of Destin, Florida.
Her brother, Kenneth Keener, serves in the U.S. Navy.
Sonia Audrey Nkashama
Sonia Audrey Nkashama
 Birmingham
“ The world has many problems, but I hope to help solve at least one
of them.”
 Sonia has been accepted to Emory University in Atlanta, Vanderbilt
University in Nashville, Rhodes College in Memphis, and Washington
University in St. Louis! She has chosen Rhodes College to begin her
college career majoring in Biochemistry, with the goal of obtaining her
Doctorate in the area of Neurological Science. Whichever profession
she chooses, she hopes to help people with mental diseases or
disorders, such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s or Epilepsy. Sonia graduated
in the top 5 from Vestavia Hills High School with a 4.5 GPA, earned a 33
on the ACT, and a 1520 on the SAT. She was a member of the Math
Team, Choir, Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society, HOPE (Helping
Other People Everywhere) Club, Track Team, National Honor Society,
and president of the French Honor Society. She teaches Sunday
school, is a French and math tutor, and a volunteer for the Sandlot
Sports Center. Sonia is the daughter of Mukala and Mubenga
Nkashama. Mukala is an accountant for the Birmingham District
Housing Authority.
Tina Strozier
Tina Strozier
 Daleville
“Seeing the spark in their eyes was enough to make me
realize that I could teach them music - even if they could not
hear it, they could feel it.”
 Tina is currently enrolled at the University of Montevallo,
double-majoring in Deaf Education and Music Education. She
was inspired to teach music to the hearing impaired after
participating in “Deaf Awareness Day’ in the 6th grade, and
volunteering with the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind
in Dothan. She currently has a 3.8 GPA and earned a 25 on
the ACT. She is active as an SGA officer, Director of Social
Services, a Links-Up Mentor, YMCA Collegiate Legislator, and
business manager for the yearbook staff. She will become its
Editor in the Fall. Tina graduated from Daleville High School in
2001. She is the daughter of Annie Strozier, resident of the
Daleville Housing Authority