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Columbus Seniors Recognized with Helen Jenkins Davis Lunch Bunch Scholarships for Perseverance in the Classroom and Community
May 28, 2020 -- Columbus City Schools and the scholarship committee of the Helen Jenkins Davis Scholarship Fund Lunch Bunch are excited to announce the names of five Columbus City Schools high achieving seniors as winners of the organization’s 2020 Helen Jenkins Scholarship Award.
The Scholarship is awarded annually to African American students who are graduating seniors. This year’s winners, their selected colleges, and their planned course of studies are as follows.
Ravionna Johnson – East High School: To attend Denison University for studies in Psychology and Education.
Joy Jesujaare Ayinde – Centennial High School: To attend The Ohio State University for studies in Pre-Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.
Naa Dromo Korley – Centennial High School: To attend The Ohio State University or the University of Cincinnati for studies in Medical Anthropology or Medical Science.
Maurice Lemons – Centennial High School: To attend the University of Dayton for studies in Engineering, Medical Anthropology, or Medical Science.
Lashawn David Samuel – West High School: To attend The Ohio State University or Capital University for studies in Accounting.
Each of the seniors will receive upwards of $2,000 to be used for college.
“This year’s spate of Helen Jenkins Davis Scholarship Fund Lunch Bunch awardees exemplifies an amazing “yes we can” spirit and truly merit being designated as “more than conquerors,” said Gwen Williams, Lunch Bunch president.
To qualify for the Helen Jenkins Davis Scholarship, a student must have maintained a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average and present an official high school transcript, two letters of recommendation from a school counselor, teacher, or administrator. Scholarship candidates must also provide a college acceptance letter, a personal essay, and demonstrate financial need. Students also need to show a level of school and community involvement and complete a personal interview with the Lunch Bunch Scholarship committee.
“Each candidate had a heartwarming and often heart-wrenching story that truly impressed and touched us all,” said Ruth Paige, scholarship committee member.
The Helen Jenkins Davis Scholarship Fund Lunch Bunch was founded in 1987 by Columbus School educators Catherine Willis and the late Thelma Givens.
The scholarships are both a tribute and a memorial to the legacy of school desegregation pioneer Helen Jenkins Davis. She committed her professional life as a Columbus City Schools educator to mentoring and motivating the city’s underprivileged and at-risk African American students.
To read the student profiles, click HERE.
For additional information about the Helen Jenkins Davis Scholarship Fund Lunch Bunch, please contact Gwen Wade, gcwwade820@gmail.com.