Dayton students win MLK Scholarships

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - By:  Melissa Fowler, Communications Specialist, Dayton Public Schools

Five Dayton Public Schools students were honored as the winners of the 25th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Contest.

Ponitz CTC counselor Susan Wadovsky describes Marquise Crosby as a bright, respectful, resourceful student who loves to be intellectually challenged. A member of the National Honor Society, Marquise maintains a 4.0 GPA while taking challenging biotech classes at Ponitz and post-secondary courses at Sinclair. He demonstrates leadership as a member of the Teen Summit and the Ponitz Panthers competitive swimming team. Marquise serves the community at the VA Hospital*s medical lab and as a nursing aide at Shiloh House. He will study medical technology at Wright State, which he describes as a stepping stone to a career in laboratory research.

Stivers School for the Arts counselor David Asadorian describes Angela Hall as a scholar/athlete. She takes Advanced Placement calculus and chemistry, plays basketball and volleyball, and maintains a 3.8 GPA. Angela*s leadership skills are apparent to her coaches and teammates, who chose her as a volleyball co-captain. She has a passion for working with and helping children, coaching a second- and third-grade basketball team at St. Anthony*s Catholic Church. Her career goal is to become an accountant.

Stivers senior Samantha Meeker is taking three Advanced Placement classes-English, pre-calculus and physics, as well as Spanish III-and maintains a 3.5 GPA while working and playing *select* softball. She wants to be the first person in her family to go to college, so part of the money she earns goes into a saving account to help pay for her education. Samantha has served as a volunteer for the Special Olympics. The friendly bedside manner she displays will be helpful in her chosen career as a doctor.

Anissa Williams*s teachers describe her as an outstanding student. The Stivers senior is taking Advanced Placement and honors courses, helping younger music students, serving as a member of the chamber choir, working at Kramer Graphics, and maintaining a 3.13 GPA. In addition, she serves the community by volunteering as a blood donor. Anissa received an Excellent rating from the Ohio Music Education Association for her performance on the flute. She will continue to practice music, take education courses and pursue a career as a flute teacher.

Meadowdale mathematics teacher James Bornhorst describes Kelli Williamson as dependable, punctual and very mature. She is in the challenging International Baccalaureate program, and has a 4.1 GPA. Kelli is a member of the National Honor Society. Her leadership skills were recognized by Noah*s Arc, which honored her with a Student Ambassador Award. Kelli has served the community by volunteering at Goodwill as a *Goodguides* student mentor, at a COSI event at Wright Brothers Pre-K School, at Sinclair Community College and at the Puerto Rican Festival. She also leads a youth group at the Pentecostal Church of God and works with six- to 12-year-olds. Kelli plans to study nursing at Wright State, with the career goal of becoming a pediatric nurse practitioner.

The five DPS winners received $3,200 awards from Wright State University.

Scholarships were given on the basis of academics, character, financial need, a recommendation and an essay discussing a New York Times editorial titled *Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Us in Today*s World: What Shall We Do With Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.?* Since the inception of the MLK Scholarship Program, area graduates have received more than $389,000.