WS Chronicle

 RALEIGH, NC – Ronald Reagan High School senior Allen Choyce is the recipient of a $1,200 Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship from the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE). Scholarships are given annually in honor of Dr. King’s legacy.

Presented by the NCAE Human and Civil Rights Commission, the scholarships provide financial assistance to graduating seniors who plan to further their education beyond high school. Money for the scholarships come from NCAE members, staff, and public education supporters. Selection criteria for students include character, personality, and scholastic achievement.

The scholarship will be applied toward Choyce’s college education at UNC-Greensboro, where he wants to study biology.

Described as insightful, driven, and selfless, Choyce maintains a 3.6 GPA despite suffering from Sickle Cell Anemia, which has occasionally caused him to miss school. His illness has not kept him from giving back to the community or participating in school activities such as the Young Men of Standards Club, the Black Achiever’s Club, or the CARE Club. Helping others has been an important part of his life, and he has been a volunteer for Meals on Wheels and has served as an usher and supervisor of children at his church.

Choyce said Dr. King’s book, “Stride Towards Freedom,” has profoundly influenced his life. “Principals Two, Four, and Six have had the biggest impact on my life. Each in their own way have given me a positive outlook on several confrontations I’ve had in my life. Knowing that in time everything will turn out how it needs to be takes away several weights from my conscious.”

The manager of volunteer services at Wake Forest Baptist Health, where Choyce volunteered, said of him, “He took pride in doing his assigned tasks. Allen aimed for excellence, showed compassion, and was service oriented. He cultivated selfless contributions and was committed to helping others in their time of need.”

NCAE is the state’s largest education advocacy organization for public school employees, and represents active, retired, and student members.