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 THE 2026 RAHMAN ALIM STRUM RECIPIENTS
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1st Place Scholar - Imani Evans
The journey toward becoming a neonatal nurse is one I embrace with purpose, compassion, and a deep desire to care for others at their most cri:cal and delicate moments. My passion for nursing began at an early age as I watched my grandmother dedicate over 40 years to the nursing profession. Her stories and unwavering compassion inspired me to pursue a path where I could make a meaningful difference in the lives of others, especially children.
As a 2026 graduate of Westlake High School, I was actively involved in organiza:ons inside and outside of school that strengthened both my leadership and commitment to service, including the National Honor Society, BETA Club, Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), 21st Century Leaders, CRAJ Student Ambassador program, and Women of Westlake. Outside of academics, I enjoy baking cookies and experimenting with new flavors, which allows me to express my creativity. This fall, I will attend Georgia State University to pursue a degree in nursing, with the dream of one day caring for newborns and their families in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
My interest in nursing deepened through hands-on experience during my internship at the Shepherd Center, where I worked with patients recovering from spinal cord and brain injuries. I assisted with art therapy and pool therapy sessions while observing patient care in a clinical setting. This experience opened my eyes to both the challenges and rewards of healthcare. This experience strengthened my commitment to pursuing a career in neonatal nursing, where every moment of care can have a lasting impact.
Service has always been a cornerstone of my journey. Volunteering at St. Francis Soup Kitchen, participating in the #Lunchbag program, and helping organize food, clothing, and toy drives
through my church have shown me the importance of serving others with dignity and respect. These experiences taught me that healthcare extends beyond clinical settings and begins with
understanding the social and economic challenges individuals face. As a future nurse, I hope to advocate for holistic care that addresses not only medical needs but also the emotional and
social factors that influence a patient’s well-being.
I am deeply grateful to the Rahman Alim Strum Scholarship CommiVee for investing in my future. This scholarship is a tremendous blessing to both me and my mother, helping to ease
the financial burden of college and allowing me to focus on achieving my dream.
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I am committed to paying this opportunity forward through continued service, purposeful action, and, one day, by becoming a financial supporter of the Rahman Alim Strum organization so that future students can pursue their dreams as I have been blessed to pursue mine.
2nd Place Scholar - De'Shawn Washington Jenkins
De'Shawn Washington-Jenkins is a native of Edisto Island, South Carolina, and a proud graduate of Baptist Hill Middle High School, Class of 2025. During his high school career, he distinguished himself as a servant leader and advocate for student success, serving in numerous leadership roles including JROTC Battalion Commander, Student Government Chief of Staff, Senior Class Vice President, and Chair of the School Improvement Council, becoming the first student to hold that position within the Charleston County School District. His commitment to leadership and civic engagement was further demonstrated through his participation in Palmetto Boys State, where he developed a deeper understanding of government, public policy, and servant leadership.
De'Shawn is currently a sophomore at the University of South Carolina Salkehatchie, where he is pursuing an Associate of Arts degree before transferring to the University of South Carolina Aiken to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education with a concentration in Social Studies. As a college student, he has continued to exemplify a heart for service by taking on leadership roles across campus and within his community. His involvement in student leadership, residence life, and professional organizations reflects his dedication to creating meaningful opportunities for others while fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and inclusion.
Rooted in the principles of servant leadership, De'Shawn believes that true leadership is measured not by titles, but by one's willingness to serve. Whether mentoring peers, organizing initiatives, advocating for students, or volunteering within his community and church, he remains committed to leading with humility, integrity, and purpose. His passion for education extends beyond the classroom, as he seeks to empower young people to become informed citizens, critical thinkers, and compassionate leaders.
Following graduation, De'Shawn plans to begin his career as a secondary social studies teacher before advancing into educational leadership as an assistant principal, principal, and district administrator. His long-term vision is to serve as a South Carolina school district superintendent, become the South Carolina State Superintendent of Education, and ultimately fulfill his lifelong aspiration of serving as the United States Secretary of Education. Through every stage of his career, he is committed to strengthening public education, expanding opportunities for all students, and advocating for policies that promote equity, innovation, and academic excellence.
Guided by faith, service, and an unwavering belief in the transformative power of education, De'Shawn Washington-Jenkins is dedicated to leaving a lasting legacy of leadership that inspires others, strengthens communities, and shapes the future of public education for generations to come.
3rd Place Scholar - Maja Hausmann
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My name is Maja Hausmann, and this fall I will begin my freshman year at Florida Gulf Coast University, where I will pursue a degree in Journalism. I graduated Summa Cum Laude from North Fort Myers High School with a 4.01 GPA, but the experiences that have shaped my character extend far beyond the classroom.
Throughout high school, I embraced every opportunity to grow as both a student and a journalist. I devoted myself to chorus, television production, broadcasting, and soccer, discovering that the most meaningful education often unfolds through collaboration, creativity, and service. As a member of my school's choral program, I was honored to participate in All-County Choir and other chorus events on multiple occasions, deepening my appreciation for the beauty of collective achievement. Through Television Production, I earned recognition at the Lee County Film Awards multiple times, where I learned that every compelling story begins with careful thoughtful communication, and genuine curiosity.
Service became an equally defining part of my high school years. I dedicated more than 100 hours to volunteering with a nonprofit organization, primarily working with children. Those experiences impressed upon me that kindness is most powerful when offered consistently and without expectation. During that same time, I also helped care for my father throughout his illness until his passing. Though profoundly difficult, that chapter taught me resilience and revealed that compassion is often expressed not through grand gestures, but through unwavering presence.
Surprisingly, some of my most rewarding experiences took place online. Managing my school's soccer program allowed me to cultivate friendships that have become some of the most meaningful in my life while strengthening my ability to report on athletics with greater insight and appreciation. I also managed the social media for multiple choirs, our Television Production program, discovering how writing and communication can give a community a stronger voice.
My love for journalism was born from an even deeper love of literature and poetry. I have always believed that words can preserve history and illuminate truth. Some may say that journalism is a dying profession, I believe the opposite. I believe journalism is an enduring profession. As long as the need to communicate is present, so is the writing and reporting of journalists. I hope to build a career that reflects those ideals, eventually serving as a media specialist for the FBI, where I can use thoughtful communication to inform the public, strengthen trust, and protect integrity.
Receiving this scholarship has been both a tremendous honor and a deeply humbling reminder of the generosity of those who choose to invest in the aspirations of others. I am profoundly grateful for your confidence in my future. As I begin this next chapter, I carry with me not only your support, but also the responsibility to honor it through curiosity, compassion, and a steadfast commitment to serving others. My hope is that wherever life leads, I will leave every community I encounter a little more informed, a little more connected, and a little better than I found it.