Della Fleetwood-Sherrod Humanitarian Scholarship

I am Jamari Moore, a soon-to-be graduate of South West Edgecombe High. I am pursuing a Bachelor in Business Administration, Human Resources Management Concentration. I grew up near my grandparents David and Robin Batts Sr. My grandparents own and operate the Batts Family Farm. Before the pandemic, during the pandemic, and after the pandemic, I help my grandparents farm produce such as corn, sweet potatoes, collards, cabbage, turnip greens, butter beans, green beans, onions, peppers, okra, squash, watermelon, cantaloupe, apples, pears, muscadine grapes, hogs, goats, and chickens. We are one of the few African-American families that farm in our area. Throughout the year, we sell fresh produce at the farmer's market/on the farm and donate fresh produce to the local food banks in the area. My grandfather is the man, who encouraged me to pursue a degree in Business Administration; he has allowed me to take part in sales, researching the best prices for the business and the customers, taking part in interviews, and being a part of the hiring process. He has taught me the importance of owning and purchasing land, being able to farmland successfully, and being able to provide for myself. By working with my grandparents, I have learned discipline, teamwork, and patience. I have learned that you need to understand when you are farming that things can and will change daily, and you need to be able to adjust and adapt to the situation at hand. My granddad’s favorite quote and the philosophy he sticks by is, “If you do not work, you do not eat”, I live by that philosophy as well. Majoring in Business Administration will help me to contribute new knowledge to the family business, as well as help me to find my niche in the Agriculture Business Field. There are so many people, especially young African-Americans that do not understand that Agriculture Business is almost everywhere, it is found in food production companies, biotechnology companies, pharmaceutical, companies that make toothpaste, toilet tissue, hair products, clothes, shoes, oil, restaurants, the list is endless. I want to be able to show and teach minorities about the vast opportunities that are in the Agriculture Field by obtaining my Business Administration degree. On January 7, 2023, I had a major death in my family, my heart, my mother, Katrina Batts at the age of 40, lost her battle with Stage 4 Metastatic Urothelial Malignancy Cancer. With the death of my mother, it has been hard on my dad David Batts Jr. (stepfather), my brother, and myself; we all thought we had more time with her, but we are taking it one day at a time by sticking together. We never thought my dad would be a single father, raising my brother who is 11 and myself by himself, not at the age of 34. My dad used all of his FMLA last year and at the beginning of this year; he had to take off work to take my late mother to all of her appointments, chemotherapy sessions, and hospital stays when she would get sick after her diagnosis., My dad, using all of his sick leave days for my mother, depleted most of his savings with taking care of my mother, all of the household bills, and taking care of my brother and I. Attaining a scholarship to attend North Carolina Central University will be a great help to my dad and myself, my dad will not have to figure out how he is going to help pay for my schooling that financial aid does not cover.

Service is an act many can participate in, yet many lack participation in their acts of service to others. I honorably serve my High School Women’s Varsity Soccer team as Captain. Alongside two others, we have led our team to many victories and long-lasting relationships. Individually, I lead my team by being a figure of guidance, encouragement and support for each player to look up to, not just as their upperclassman. Whether they need positive reinforcement, encouragement, constructive feedback or a little humor to lighten the mood, I’m the utility person that gives them what they need, which hopefully aligns with what they want. As a servant leader, I realize it’s bigger than soccer. I give back to them through my service and it feels great to do so whether win, learn or draw. I was also selected to bestow my leadership abilities within the YMCA Young Leaders Institute. Within this group, I demonstrate effective communication, collaboration, and perseverance. Together, we were educated on how to enhance our leadership skills. Taking this newly learned leadership advice, I became a part of the Junior YMCA Board, where we actively participate in community service. I have led our efforts in our trash pick-up because I want my neighborhood to look presentable and environmentally friendly. Additionally, I have helped organize youth initiatives such as our Easter Basket Project, where we give to children in need. I adore being able to assist my local community and the YMCA junior board provides me with the resources to do just that. Continuing my acts of service, I actively volunteer with several churches by participating in Vacation Bible School, helping in local nursing homes, and donating to organizations that benefit children. In the nursing homes and children’s organizations, I collect essentials, toiletries and snacks and bring in lightly used clothing to donate to these establishments. The people within these donation-based organizations express great satisfaction seeing young people paying it forward. During Vacation Bible School, I helped the children complete their crafts and participated in their activities, like dancing and playing on the playground. Interacting with the youth allowed me to experience the same joy they share amongst each other. I strive to exchange that same joy and give them some excitement to look forward to. Furthermore, I serve my local elementary school through my service in the Halloween STEM and Arts Celebration, as Field Day Leader and Spanish Immersion Tutor. For Spanish Immersion, a select group of students act as assistants and help the students with their assignments. Since I frequently visit the children, I have formed connections with youth of all ages. Being surrounded by them regularly has allowed me to understand them and inspired me to interact with them even more. Lastly, I have served my community with Waymakers, which is an organization that prepares free meals for those in need. I help assemble the meals and fashion together toiletry bags. I have a burning passion for serving with Waymakers because I love seeing the expression of hope on people’s faces when they see a helping hand. The price I pay for being a servant leader is priceless, just as the many smiles on the faces of those I’m blessed to impact. I am thankful to the Della Fleetwood-Sherrod Humanitarian Scholarship for this opportunity and the chance to join the ranks of those you have impacted that have gone on to impact the world. It is my sincere desire to become another success story, where you can share a priceless smile as you tell it to other promising young humanitarians destined to do the same.

The cornerstones of a flourishing society are giving back to the community and helping those in need. I have dedicated my entire life to both, deriving great satisfaction from making a positive impact on my community. My commitment to community service is the result of a confluence of my experiences, beliefs, and a deep appreciation for the transformational potential of compassion. My commitment is based on my conviction that all people are interconnected. Every strand, no matter how tiny, adds to the overall strength and beauty of the fabric that is our collective tapestry. This viewpoint has inspired me to look for chances to help others since I know that when we uplift people, we also uplift our community as a whole. My personal life circumstances have fostered an empathy that is one of the main reasons I am passionate about community involvement. Having experienced hardship and obstacles, I recognize the value of unity and support in trying times. Knowing personally the positive effects even seemingly insignificant acts of kindness can have on someone's life inspires me to want to help and console people in need. In addition, my desire to confront structural issues that underrepresented people face and bring about good change is the foundation of my commitment to community service. I am motivated by the conviction that every person has intrinsic worth and dignity, regardless of their circumstances, whether I'm arranging food drives, helping at a nearby shelter, or pushing for legislative change. I get a sense of pleasure and purpose from community involvement that goes beyond just satisfying my own needs. It gives me the chance to positively impact other people's lives and contribute to something bigger than myself. Every act of service, whether it is assisting the elderly, mentoring young people, or taking part in environmental cleanup projects, helps to create a community that is more resilient and compassionate. Moreover, my commitment to community service is a lifelong endeavor, driven by a genuine desire to create a more equitable and just society. It is not just something I do sporadically, but rather a core aspect of my identity and values. By continually seeking out ways to serve others and address the needs of my community, I hope to inspire others to join me in this collective effort towards positive social change. To sum up, my dedication to performing community service and helping people in need stems from a profound sense of empathy, compassion, and the desire to make the world a better place for everyone. I make an effort to live up to the values of kindness, giving, and unity because I know that when we all work together, we can create a better future for present and future generations.