1st Place Winner
My name is Michael Cleveland, a 2017 honor graduate of Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta, Ga. I am a devoted child of God. I attend Walker Tabernacle Baptist Church where I serve God as a Junior Deacon and by being an active member in the music and educational ministries of my church. During my high school experience, I was heavily involved in the Early College program where I attended Atlanta Metropolitan State College and graduated with college credit, as well as The National Beta Club, The Tri-M Music Honor Society, The Marching 100 Band, and Yearbook. Since childhood, watching my mother work as a paramedic I have had the desire to one-day work in the medical field. I devoted 146 hours to volunteering in the E.R. at Grady Health Systems the summer of 2016 which inspired me to want to become an E.R. Physician. I chose to attend Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans where I will major Biology Pre-Med with a Chemistry minor. After I obtain my bachelor’s I will either attend Morehouse School of Medicine or Meharry Medical College for medical school. . I am extremely grateful for this opportunity which will help contribute to my success. Thank you.
1st Place Winner
My name is Michael Cleveland, a 2017 honor graduate of Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta, Ga. I am a devoted child of God. I attend Walker Tabernacle Baptist Church where I serve God as a Junior Deacon and by being an active member in the music and educational ministries of my church. During my high school experience, I was heavily involved in the Early College program where I attended Atlanta Metropolitan State College and graduated with college credit, as well as The National Beta Club, The Tri-M Music Honor Society, The Marching 100 Band, and Yearbook. Since childhood, watching my mother work as a paramedic I have had the desire to one-day work in the medical field. I devoted 146 hours to volunteering in the E.R. at Grady Health Systems the summer of 2016 which inspired me to want to become an E.R. Physician. I chose to attend Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans where I will major Biology Pre-Med with a Chemistry minor. After I obtain my bachelor’s I will either attend Morehouse School of Medicine or Meharry Medical College for medical school. . I am extremely grateful for this opportunity which will help contribute to my success. Thank you.
2nd Place Winner
My name is Eboni Diamond Washington, a native of the South Bronx, New York currently living in Chiang Mai, Thailand where I own a vegan soul food pop up shop called Vegan Traphouse. Our sole mission is to promote veganism while raising awareness about Black American culture through food and education. I hold my Bachelors of Arts in Radio-TV-Film from the illustrious Howard University and am now currently enrolled at the University of New England obtaining my Master of Social of Work. While attending Howard, I volunteered with an organization called Lady Me where we mentored and tutored “at-risk” high school females. Since being in Thailand, I was given the opportunity to lead several English camps for Thai students focused on health and environmental conservation. This fall, I will begin my internship with Burmese refugees here in Thailand. My ultimate goal is to become an international social worker and work specifically with oppressed indigenous populations around the world. I believe in the saying "no one is free while others are still oppressed" and cultural competency plays a vital role in positive human interaction. With the help of the Rahman Alim Strum Scholarship, I will be able to continue my venture in helping individuals in various communities achieve better mental, physical, and emotional health. I will be forever grateful for this award.
Congratulations to our 2016 Rahman Alim Strum Scholarship Winners!!!
2nd Place Winner
1st Place Winner
I am a 2016 honor graduate from McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Georgia. I have been a resident of Georgia since birth. I am the daughter of Jennifer & Morris Allen, Jr. and I have one older brother, Morris Allen, III. As a recent graduate, I participated in community, school and church activities. I participated as a member of the McEachern High School Girls Varsity basketball team – 4-6A State Champions in 2014, 2015 and 2016 – “3Peat”. I served as a co-captain my senior year. Additionally, my school involvement included the BETA Club, the student council, the theater program and the Chick-fil-A Leadership Academy wherein I served in a leadership role as a project leader of our community service
projects and mentor for our middle school students’ mentoring program.
I am a member of Turner Chapel AME Church in Marietta, GA. I serve as President of our YPD and participate on the youth praise & worship team. I have been a member of the church’s Girl Scouts Troop 8107 since the age of 7. This involvement has included community service projects and activities for the last 10+ years. I am currently a Girl Scout Ambassador and recipient of the Girl Scouts of Atlanta Council Girl Scouts Gold Award - Centennial Class of 2016. This award is a result of my community forum which focused on building awareness among teens about the
immediate dangers of sex trafficking in our community, neighborhoods, and state. I became an advocate and participated in community forums and church youth meetings. This activity has been one of my greatest fulfillments and influenced me to consider a college major in the area of law and criminal justice.
My plans for the fall are to attend Hampton University in Hampton, Virgina and major in criminal justice with a minor in pre-law & leadership. Upon completion of college, I plan to attend law school. My personal motto in life is: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
2nd Place Winner
Hello to all of you reading! My name is Tyler Sledge. I graduated from Campbell High School’s IB Program and I will begin my studies at Mercer University this fall and I'm majoring in Biomedical Engineering with a minor in either Business or Computer Science. While in high school, I was the treasurer for Habitat for Humanity and I was also active in National Honor Society, Core Fusion Robotics, Beta Club, Cricket Club, the Dive Team and Ultimate Frisbee Club. I want to help those in need with my intended as well as develop my own innovations in robotic prosthetics. My scholarship essay addressed the prevalence of mental illness and anxiety in high school and college age students as many around me suffer from mental strains and stresses. I am very grateful to receive the Rahman Alim Strum scholarship, it will provide such a great success in my future academic career.