Kati Burns

The Selma Times-Journal

For three years now, the Selma-Dallas County Alumni Chapter of Alabama State University has awarded scholarships to one lucky student from each of the four public schools in the Selma-Dallas County area. This year, three students were chosen and awarded a monetary scholarship to Alabama State University in Montgomery.

Shaqweda Bell, formerly of Keith High School; Kenyatta Coleman, formerly of Southside High School; and Destinee Robinson, formerly of Selma High School, were each presented with a certificate from the Selma-Dallas County Alumni Chapter of Alabama State University in the amount of $600 during their school awards day ceremonies held in May.

“Only three of the four high schools responded to the scholarship competition in the Selma-Dallas County area,” said Vice President of the Selma-Dallas County Alumni Chapter Gerald Shirley. “The students are chosen by the scholarship committee and then are awarded at one of our Alumni Chapter meetings.”

The scholarship guidelines required that each recipient must attend Alabama State University, must meet the academic requirements of Alabama State University and have a GPA of at least 2.5 for his/her local high school. In addition, each student was required to write a 300 word typed essay explaining why he / she should receive the scholarship. The distribution of the scholarship funds requires that the student must present a copy of his / her schedule at the beginning of each semester. Funds for the scholarship will be awarded for $300 each semester but the student has to be enrolled and in good standings the second semester.

Seventeen-year-old Robinson, who graduated with a 3.579 GPA from Selma High School, plans to major in Social Work at the University.

“Getting the scholarship felt great,” said Robinson, who also received a Choir scholarship, among others.

Robinson had numerous involvements at Selma High including, National Honor Society, Boy Scouts of America, Dual Enrollment and the Delta Gems School Choir.

The funding for the Alumni Chapter scholarship is taken from the proceeds gathered by ticket sales from the annual Black and Gold Banquet held in February.