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Darryl Davis "Follow Your Heart" Scholarship

Funded by
$500
1 winner$500
Awarded
Next Application Deadline
Sep 11, 2021
Next Winners Announced
Oct 15, 2021
Education Level
Undergraduate

A wonderful member of our family, Darryl Wayne Davis, passed away on September 11, 2019.

One thing we will always remember about Darryl was his love for God, his family, and his friends. He also loved to sing, and Darryl never missed an opportunity to use his God-given talents anywhere he could. Our family has a long history of singers, including our dad who was in a Christian gospel group for 25 years.

Through his singing and contribution to the community, Darryl was a glimmer of light in our lives and the lives of many others. Above all else, he followed his heart for God and inspired others to do the same.

To honor Darryl's enthusiastic spirit and loving legacy, we created the Darryl Davis "Follow Your Heart" Scholarship. The scholarship will be awarded annually to one student who is pursuing their dreams with their full hearts.

The scholarship is open to undergraduate students in any field of study. While not required, a passion for singing, a history of giving back to your community, and involvement with church is a plus.

Selection Criteria:
Essay, Connection, Community Service, Ambition, Drive
Published January 30, 2021
Essay Topic

Tell us a little more about you, your goals, and how you plan to pursue them. What do you hope to achieve in life? What excites you most about this world? How do you plan to give back to others and your community?

150–750 words

Winners and Finalists

October 2021

Finalists
Madeline McKnight
Matthew Oviedo
Cheyenne Tharp
Abigail Sarinana
Mackinzie Whitlock
Celine Liu
Alyssa Garcia
Rawan Tarabeh
Taylor Tarver-Swanson
Emily Clark
Kamdyn Edwards
Annabelle Roycroft
Jessica Henry
John Gilbert
Emma Humes
Jackie Jimenez
Orlyana Tantchou
Alexah Fite
Kori Brown
Payton Christophersen
Abigail Roque
Chase Matous
Anah Torres
Madison Lewis
brandi potter
Vina Nguyen
Belen Evans
Ayanna Wilson
Alexandria Nguyen
Valerie Rodriguez
Breanna Ross
James Le
Kylie Anderson
Ibukunoluwapo Adedeji
Bonnie Horn
Rachel Patterson
Ryan Landa
Carol Tidwell
Naw Nge
Sydney Reed
Sierra Spohn
Bethany Rodriguez
Maria Garcia
Ethan Donnell
Camille Harrell
Heaven Taylor-Barksdale
Juliana Vargas
Madelyn Karstedt
Josephine Falode
Adam Rodriguez
Harry Sirianni
Meba Wondwossen
Katie Stone
Jesus Barron
Destiny Rajkumar
Dalee Sullivan
Luke Stein
Hailey Renfro
Emily Oehler
Addison Lueck
Katarina Andiel

Winning Application

Laney Scott
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CenterHouston, TX
My professional goal is to have a career in the medical field. Ever since I can remember, I have had the desire to be in the medical field and have a profession meant for helping people. My mother and father both originally majored in medicine, but eventually changed to a different major still within the medical field. My parents are such role models in my life, and I want to follow their example. After much research, I have decided to pursue a degree as a Physician Assistant. My college undergraduate major is Pre-Physician Assistant. I want to obtain my bachelor’s degree with a competitive resume and then continue my education in a Physician Assistant Master’s program. This degree is high in demand and continues to grow every year. As a Physician Assistant, I will seek employment at community clinic where I will be able to make a difference in people’s lives and truly love what I do. The fact that a PA is in high demand, has good job security and great pay is just a bonus. I have taken many steps academically and personally to achieve my goals. I have completed a challenging academic high school career, including all honors science and math courses. Pursuant to a medical degree, I am currently taking Honors Anatomy and Physiology. During my junior and senior year, I also took additional math and science courses. In addition to honors courses, I also completed dual credit and AP courses to earn college credit and prepare me for a college curriculum. At Saint Louis University, I have applied to the Physician Assistant Honors program. This program has a specialized curriculum that ensures enrolled students receive all necessary courses and work experience in preparation for their Master's program. Students in this program are guaranteed acceptance into Saint Louis' PA Master's program. Outside of academics, I have volunteered at many places in my community, including the Veteran's Hospital and Lake Shore Retirement Center, to familiarize myself with patient care. I felt a real connection to the veterans and the geriatric population; I enjoyed being a part of their recovery. During my academic career, I ascertained many essential skills vital to achieving my career goals. Being an officer of my high school dance team over the last three years developed many of those skills. Dance has taught me leadership, independence, discipline, teamwork, dedication, focus, communication and self-discipline, which all have provided me with the necessary tools to be successful in college, a career and life. Unfortunately, not all learning experiences are through a positive experience, like dance. My learning disability, ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), necessitated many other compensatory skills, like hard work and organization. I have always known that I would have to work harder and study more than most, but I was not going to let that stop me. If anything, these struggles have made me stronger and more determined. I have no doubt that I will succeed in all my future endeavors.

FAQ

When is the scholarship application deadline?

The application deadline is Sep 11, 2021. Winners will be announced on Oct 15, 2021.