‘It’s a blessing.’ Columbus-area students surprised with full tuition scholarships for college
Paying for college got a whole lot easier for seven Columbus area high school seniors Wednesday — in surprising ways.
Alabama State University officials visited Central-Phenix City and Shaw high schools to make the surprise announcements. The following students received four-year scholarships:
- M’Kiyah Conner and Jamorrey Gosha of Central
- Aniya Tate of Russell County
- Syniah Hood, Jordyn Moody and Genesis Winston of Shaw
- Daron Johnson of Kendrick.
They received one of two scholarships: either for $50,672 (covering full tuition, textbooks and fees) or $37,312 (covering full tuition and $500 for textbooks).
M’Kiyah is among those who received the most valuable one. Through tears, M’Kiyah expressed her gratitude for ASU’s generosity.
“I’m thankful for everything that they’ve done for me and given me this opportunity to be able to go to this school,” she told reporters in the Central auditorium. “… A lot of people don’t get this chance, so it’s amazing. It’s beyond anything that I could ask for.”
M’Kiyah, a state champion track athlete, hopes to compete for ASU and major in political science to become a lawyer. Now, those goals will be easier to attain.
That’s because the financial load is “off my shoulders,” M’Kiyah’s mother, Cicely Abron, said after hugging her daughter. “It’s a blessing.”
Abron teaches math at Central.
Jennifer Kite, the senior class guidance counselor at Central, also appreciated the moment.
“It’s rewarding,” Kite told the Ledger-Enquirer. “My job itself is rewarding, working with seniors and trying to help get them in college, just trying to be that positive impact.”
All of which motivates ASU officials.
“We understand how expensive college can get,” ASU admissions and recruitment director Freddie Williams told the L-E. “… This is an investment in young people in this area.”
And news coverage of the surprises generates even more attention for that mission.
“Here we are making the American dream come true for young men and women who are needing it,” ASU media relations and public information director Kenneth Mullinax told the L-E.
Watching the reactions from the students, Williams said, “makes me know I’m in the right profession. Anytime I get burned out and get tired, then you see that look on a kid’s face you’ve given scholarship money, I mean, it just lets you know you’re doing the right thing.”
The recipients are determined based on need and merit, as well as consultations with high school guidance counselors, ASU recruiter Alicia Payne told the L-E.
“They may have applied and thought we forgot about them or they just weren’t good enough for a scholarship,” she said. “So to be able to surprise them in that moment, it’s such a great feeling. That’s why we do this job. I work in this position because I like to change lives.”
This story was originally published February 26, 2020 at 3:10 PM.
