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 2019 Rahman Alim Strum Scholarship Winners!!!
1st Place Winner
Kerra Alexis Kelly was born in Birmingham, Alabama and raised in McDonough, GA. She is a recent honor graduate of Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy graduating with a 4.2 grade point average.
She was involved in numerous activities such as Student Council (Treasurer), National Honor Society, Beta Club, Thespian Society, and Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA). She was one of forty students selected out of the county to participate in a nine month program called Youth Leadership Henry which introduced leaders to all areas that impact county governance. She was accepted to attend a leadership program at George Washington University where she learned the skills of what it means to be a leader and how to develop into an outstanding leader for the community. Kerra was also selected to attend a medical program in Boston, Massachusetts where she received the Award of Excellence for National Future Physicians and Medical Leaders. This past March, Kerra was crowned 2019 Miss Debutante for the Forever Pink Foundation which was a nine month program that entailed business etiquette, volunteerism, and social impact. Kerra was Captain and Chaplin of the her high school cheerleaders. Within the cheerleaders she was awarded the Kingdom Athlete Award for demonstrating the most Christ-like behaviors. Kerra has always had the heart to help others and surround herself with loving people. She was voted by the high school student body the 2019 Homecoming Queen during football season.
She has a strong relationship with God and the church. She participated in the Youth Choir and Teen Ministry at church over the years. In her spare time, she enjoys going to the lake, camping, and playing card games with friends and family. Kerra is attending Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in the fall of 2019 where she will be majoring in Biology Pre-med/Pre-dent in hopes of becoming an Orthodontist or Radiologist.
2nd Place Winner
Michael Benefield III is a 2019 graduate of St. Pius X Catholic HIgh School in Atlanta, GA. In addition to being a three-sport Varsity letterman -- football, track and lacrosse -- Benefield served as a Lion Leader mentor, a Lion Ambassador and a member of the football Leadership Council. A member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Benefield was a member of the Usher and Teen ministries.
Benefield will attend Butler University in Indianapolis, IN where he will play football. Named a Morton-Finney scholar, Benefield will also participate in diversity and service initiatives on campus. Benefield plans to major in Health Sciences and continue on to graduate school to become a physical therapist.
Benefield is the eldest son of proud parents Michael and Keia Benefield and brother to Mason.
3rd Place Winner
Dekoa Craft comes from Atlanta, Georgia and recently graduated from Riverwood International Charter School as a AP Scholar and IB Certificate recipient. At Riverwood, Dekoa was involved in a variety of extracurricular activities ranging from academic to leisure, such as National Honors Society, National Beta Club, Makerspace, Robotics Club, Photography Club, and Chorus. Her most prominent involvement in school includes acting as President of the STEM Club and Vice President of Beauty By You, a club dedicated to engagement in self-love and con
fidence.
Committed to service, Dekoa participated in the Recycling Club and Community Service Club at Riverwood. In her community, she is actively involved in Keep East Point Beautiful, an organization working to beautify the city of East Point, and her church. Outside of her service activities, she enjoys dance, volleyball, and music.
Continuing her path to a great education, Dekoa will be attending Mercer University in the fall with intent to major in Mechanical Engineering. She plans to take advantage of her resources, joining many professional and creative programs, as well as study abroad. Dekoa’s career goals are to become a Mechanical Engineer and create solutions to help impoverished nations improve their societies.