WS Chronicle

As part of its long-standing annual tradition, the Ministers Conference of Winston-Salem and Vicinity last week awarded Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Seed Fund Scholarships to six college-bound high school graduates.

The college-bound students received $1,000 each. A committee of Conference members considered a number of applicants. The committee considered things such as the applicant’s grades and financial need.

Scholarship Committee Chair Dr. Serenus Churn hosted the recipients and their parents at his church, Mt. Zion Baptist, last Thursday.

“We’re very proud of those who’ve accepted this award because they are highly motivated,” Churn said.

Funded by donations collected by the Ministers Conference and its many member congregations, the scholarship is named after legendary civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who was an exceptional scholar. King entered Morehouse College at age 15, graduating with a sociology degree in 1948 before earning a divinity degree from Crozer Theological Seminary in Chester, Pa. in 1952. He earned his doctorate in systemic theology from Boston University in 1955.

Scholarship recipient Jalyn Brim will attend N.C. A&T State University this fall to study nursing. She already earned her certified nursing assistant license while at North Forsyth High School, so she’s already on her way to becoming a registered nurse .

“I like helping people; that’s what I enjoy doing,” said Brim, whose education will be funded by the Ministers Conference scholarship and the host of others she has received.

Brim said she was diligent when it came to applying for scholarships, likening the task to a full-time job.

Recipient Myracle Stevenson was on her way to Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte for orientation when she stopped by Mt. Zion. The mass communication major aspires to either work at CNN or go into sports broadcasting.

“I’m looking forward to the work and experience of broadcasting and seeing where it takes me,” she said.

Though she has a volleyball scholarship, it only covers part of her college expenses, so she’s grateful for the MLK scholarship. Her mother, Valarie Stevenson, joined her at the church.

“I’m very proud of all her achievements and all she accomplished in high school, and we’re excited to see her go on to her next endeavor,” said Valarie Stevenson.

Scholar Herman Hardial will study nursing at Winston-Salem State University in hopes of one day becoming a doctor. Hardial believes medicine is his calling because he is passionate about helping others.

“It’s a blessing,” he said of receiving the scholarship, “a real blessing that out of (six) people, I was one of them.”

Scholar Monte’a Eckard is an aspiring orthodontist who will be attending the University of  North Carolina at Greensboro.  She, too, is grateful for the financial help. She said college has always been on her to-do list.

“It’s not an option not be in school,” she said. “The drive in me will not let me stop at just high school.”

Coleman Squire, who will attend NC Central University, and Eboni Hosch, who will attend the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, were the other two scholarship recipients.

For information about the MLK scholarships, visit www.mcwsv.org/scholarship.html.