Thank you for awarding me the Louis Dade Memorial Scholarship as it allows me to focus more on my studies than work. I could not be happier in representing both the Bill Dickey Scholarship Association as well as the Louis Dade Memorial Scholarship Program.

I am a third year student at the University of Georgia studying Computer Systems Engineering with a minor in Computer Science. During the summer, I conducted research under a professor in the Computer Science Department focusing on social media and creating a software application to perform data analysis. At the same time, I was taking two classes to accelerate my graduation process. I am working as an IT Technician/Software Development Intern at a company called Assurance Technologies in Athens. In my spare time I serve as a mentor to a freshman student, take part in the event planning committee in the Hispanic Student Association, as well as partake in University Hackathons across Georgia.

My educational goals for the year include: boosting my GPA to a 3.4, becoming a more active member in my community through volunteer work, obtaining an internship for the summer, and learning one more programming language. My academic achievements would not be possible without your support. Thank you again.

Dario Ayala
Senior | University of Georgia

I have attended SUNY Canton since the fall of 2016 and have graduated with an Associate’s Degree in Engineering Science. I have continued my education here in the Bachelor’s Degree program in Electrical Engineering Technology. I will graduate in the spring of 2021. While studying and taking courses in the program, I also tutor in the library 12 hours each week.

My education is a necessary step in my future success and I couldn’t do it without the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation / Bill Dickey Scholarship. Once I graduate from SUNY Canton, I will be searching for jobs in my field of study.

I feel honored that I was chosen for this very special award and I am grateful for the scholarship because it will help me continue to achieve my future goals.

Jacob Bero
Senior | SUNY Canton

Thank you for awarding me the Louis Dade Memorial Scholarship to help me be able to attend the University of Texas at Arlington. This scholarship has helped me tremendously throughout my time here. As I am entering my final year of college, I know that I would not have been able to live on campus and attend school at the same time, if it was not for your generosity.

This past year I have worked as a Graphic Designer for the Office of International Education and Study Abroad. I have created promotional graphic materials that have been used all over our campus.

I am proud to say that I have a 3.1 GPA even with working, going to class, volunteering at church and working on various work for clients.

During my final year at UTA, I am going to continue to work hard and strive on every project that I am given. I am eager for my final semester for I am hopeful to receive a graphic design internship off campus and continue to work in my field.

Thank you again for all that you have done for me and all of the other Bill Dickey Scholarship recipients. You gave a girl with a dream to have a career in art a chance to bring that dream to fruition. I applied to a university not fully knowing how my family and I would be able to put myself through college. I have learned so much during my time here at the University of Texas at Arlington and I am so eager to see what God has in store for me in the future.

Erica Bolden
Senior | University of Texas at Arlington

I am honored once again to have been selected as a recipient of the Deborah Dickey O’Neil Scholarship.

Thank you for your generosity. The scholarship will enable me to pay for my textbooks and other additional supplies needed for class. I am extremely thankful for your gift. Because of this scholarship, I am one step closer to my goal of a debt-free graduation.

As I continue my education at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), I will take courses pertaining to my major which is Veterinary Technician. During the 2019 summer, I was afforded the opportunity to intern at Iowa State University in the George Washington Carver Research Program. During my eight week internship, my project was identifying genes that control important biological traits in birds. In my two months, I gained a lot of hands-on-experience working in a lab setting. I also got to meet many students from different colleges and universities. At the end of the program, I gave a PowerPoint presentation and participated in a Research Poster Symposium. This experience might not have been available without the assistance of the Bill Dickey Scholarship.

My goal remains to strive to finish this semester with a 3.5 or above so that I start off good.

Once again thank you so much for the scholarship which is assisting me in achieving my goals.

Meghan Campbell
Junior | Florida Agricultural Mechanical University

I want to take this opportunity to personally that you for awarding me the Nathaniel R. Goldston Scholarship for the 2019-2020 academic year. Your generosity has enabled me to be able to take care of expenses and has given me room to focus on my academics and athletics.

I am currently in my second year at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro, NC. I am an honors Pre-Nursing student and I am also on the Women’s Golf Team. Last year, I finished the school year with a 4.0 GPA, placing me on the Chancellor’s List for the entire year and I was recognized as one of the four student-athletes in the entire school to have achieved this milestone.

In golf, I maintained the lowest scoring average throughout the season and I played as #1 in every tournament. I was also nominated as Female Rookie Athlete of the Year and Female Athlete of the Year. This year my goal is to continue to succeed in and out of the classroom by maintain a 4.0 and remaining on the Chancellor’s List. Next semester, I will be applying to the upper-division Nursing Program at A&T.

For as long as I can remember, I wanted to study nursing. I want to be able to help others and make relationships with my patients so they can be as comfortable as possible during their time of need. After graduation, my plan is to work as a registered nurse in a pediatric hospital, and then go back to school to get my Nurse Practitioner license. This year, I also want to continue to be a leader on the women’s golf team by encouraging my new and old teammates to excel on the course. I want to be able to take my game to the next level. I hope to once day play professionally, if it’s God’s will. It is such a privilege to have received this scholarship and I look forward to a successful academic and athletic year. Thank you again for the opportunity to be in this position.

Christyn Carr
Sophomore | North Carolina A&T University (NCATU)

I’d like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your generosity in awarding me the Bill Dickey Scholarship.

I am currently a senior at Penn State University, majoring in Biological Anthropology, as well as completing medical school requirements. In addition, I am minoring in Psychology.

After my undergraduate studies in Penn State, I hope to go to medical school and specialize in Forensic Pathology.

During my senior year I will be a part of the following:

  • Take on my position as President of a club organization that I was able to help get off the ground, Hope Here Hope Now. Our main mission is to spread awareness about Human Trafficking and fundraising to assist other organizations working for this cause. I will now have the great honor of continuing my passion for the cause by being President of the club next school year.
  • Resume my role of Vice President of the Forensic Science Club for the second year and help plan and execute our annual Penn State Forensic Science Symposium. The symposium is designed to allow potential students (high school) of Penn State and college students of Penn State to learn more about Forensic Science, hear from different speakers in the field, and participate in activities such as fingerprinting, DNA analysis, and other trace evidence collecting methods. Last year, I single-handedly planned and executed the whole event including obtaining Dr. Cyril Wecht (world renowned Forensic Pathologist) be a speaker.
  • Continue working in an anthropological genetics research lab led by Dr. Mark Shriver in Penn State’s Anthropology Department as a core research assistant. I assist in a sampling project funded by Disney studying human traits and evolution through DNA and facial morphology. In addition, I assist in a second study involving investigating hair form through embedding, microscopy, and imaging. I will be co-author on the publication of this study.
  • Begin acquiring patient contact hours at our local hospital, where I will have the opportunity to engage with patients, shadow doctors, interact with nurses, and help with various tasks.

By awarding me this scholarship, you have lightened the worry of finance, which will allow me to focus on taking full of advantage of everything offered to me at Penn State. Your generosity means so much to me and I hope to be able to offer the same help to others in the future. I believe when we have succeeded in reaching our goals, we must remember to aid others in realizing that they too can do the same with hard work and determination. Finance should never hinder someone from attending their dream school, and that is something that you exemplify so very well.

Duneshka Cruz
Senior | Penn State University

I am honored to be one of the recipients of the Bill Dickey Scholarship for the 2019-2020 school year. Thanks to your generous support, I am the first in my family to attend an Ivy League institution.

I am a Computer Science major with an emphasis in Intelligent Systems and a minor in Sociology. I plan to use my degree and fields of study after graduation to pursue either a graduate degree in Human-Computing Interaction or pursue work in this field. I am extremely interested in creating an environment throughout the tech industry where people consider the sociopolitical implications of their tech and features before they ship them.

I envision a world where tech no longer has a motto of “build fast, break fast” and are more intentional about thinking about societal impact, especially in vulnerable communities. I am currently a junior taking 17 credits (6 classes), and plan to graduate in Spring 2021. I plan to take up research this year with the Columbia School of Social Work’s SafeLab, where they use computational analysis to identify the role of social media in the justice system, specifically on the social media of police officers.

By awarding me the Bill Dickey Scholarship, you have lightened my financial burden which allows me to focus more on the most important aspect of school, learning. Your generosity has inspired me to help others and give back to the community. I hope one day I will be able to help other students achieve their goals just as you have helped me.

Aryn Davis
Junior | Columbia University

I am so grateful to be awarded the BDSA scholarship. It is such an honor to be able to represent my community as a female, African American, on a D1 college golf team. I am so grateful for this opportunity to purse my golf career and get an education.

I am currently majoring in Economics and minoring in Marketing at Long Beach State University in California. As a senior, I am excited to begin a new chapter in my life, but I will always cherish the memories of being a collegiate athlete. I have learned so much over these past four years, and I have no doubt that these years have helped prepare me for the rest of my life. Being a college athlete has been difficult at times, but it has made me into a a stronger, harder working individual. Although I will not be pursuing golf further, it has opened so many doors for me. The game has allowed me to get an education and introduced me to so many people that are willing to help me. Now I have exciting professional opportunities in my future. I have recently applied for an internship with a Los Angeles non-profit organization that helps stimulate economic growth in impoverished communities.

I thank the Bill Dickey Association for being such a supporter of minority youth. In addition, I thank donors that make their mission possible. Their support gives me the ability to get an education without having to deal with the stress of financing it all myself. I look forward to one day having the opportunity to give back.

Maria Davis
Senior | Cal State University Long Beach

I’d like to thank the BDSA for its help toward my education.  I am committed to my goals for this school year. They include: asking for help, never giving up, always working hard, and never forgetting that “to be great you must fail.”

Currently, I am pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry Pre-Med with a minor in Psychology at Xavier University of Louisiana. With this degree, I plan on going to medical school and becoming a Pediatrician. I am very interested in how the human body works and enjoy working with children.

Once again, I am truly grateful for your donation towards my degree.

Nykeshia Dunford
Freshman | Xavier University

I’d like personally to thank all of the individuals who are and have been involved in the BDSA scholarship process. Without individuals like you, I wouldn’t have a vision of philanthropy. Not many people are willing to invest into someone’s dream, but since I’ve started college you have helped me tremendously. As I begin my senior year at Prairie View A&M, I plan to graduate with a bachelor’s in Management, and soon after find a new place to call home for graduate school where I’ll look to obtain an MBA or Master’s in Construction/Project Management. I thank you all for making it possible year by year, semester by semester.

Aubrey Graves
Senior | Prairie View A&M

I am currently a senior at Towson University and play on the Towson Women’s Golf Team. I wanted to thank those who make the BDSA Scholarship possible, as it helps alleviate some financial burdens for my family and for myself.

I am majoring in Biology with a concentration in Functional Biology of Animals and plan to go to medical school. I plan to take the MCAT this upcoming December.

I am very appreciative of this opportunity given to me and for all those that make it possible.

Erica Han
Senior | Towson University
Towson, Maryland

As a recipient of the Bill Dickey Scholarship Association & Nathaniel R. Goldston Scholarship, I would like to express my greatest appreciation and gratitude. I am majoring in Business and am exploring different concentrations to determine which I would like to pursue.

I am a member of the Women’s Golf team. Recently, I have been the number three golfer on my team, qualified for all of our tournaments, and am currently in the running for Freshman of the Year.

Ayanna Habeel
Freshman | Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Carbondale, IL

Thank you for helping to fund my college education. It is truly a blessing to be able to attend Washington University in St. Louis. The school offers a top tier education and I have grown so much in my time here.

In college, I am in the Olin Business School with double majors in Finance and Computer Science. I have a strong interest in pursuing a career in FinTech post- graduation. While pursuing my academics, I also competed on the Varsity Women’s Golf Team.

Angelica Harris
Senior | Washington University

Thank you for the academic scholarship, I cannot express how much it. It is a struggle for my family to ensure that I have what I need to be successful in college and the scholarship has helped alleviate some of that burden.

My current GPA is 3.5 and I am working to maintain my GPA despite the hard classes I am taking such as biochemistry, and my senior capstone course. I am still an active member of Midwest Aggies and the Pre-Veterinary Club. I am a new initiate into the Alpha Mu Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. As a new initiate, my goal is to complete as much community service and programs that will impact the campus, while keeping my GPA high and I am always looking for new opportunities.

This semester I successfully have taken the GRE, applied to four veterinary schools, been approved for graduation in the spring, and was a member of the winning step show team, which brought $3000 to the chapter. All of these accomplishments require time, effort, and most importantly money. None of this would have been possible without your support.

Again, thank you so much for supporting my education. My family and I are eternally grateful.

Erica Jackson
Senior | NCATU

Thank you for your generous contributions to the BDSA. As a result, I am able to attend Tennessee State University as an honors student double majoring in English and Theatre Performance. I am majoring in English and plan to focus on creative writing to further enhance my skills as a writer and ultimately become a well-established author.

I plan to expand the storytelling universe to be more inclusive and reflective of minority experiences in America and around the world. I am looking forward to continuing to perform in the fall with Sistastyle Theatre Production Company and advancing as an artist in the coming year. This is all possible thanks to the support and generosity of the BDSA and its supporters.

Myah Jackson
Sophomore | Tennessee State University

Thank you very much for selecting me for the Bill Dickey Scholarship. My family and I are very appreciative of this gift and it has alleviated many financial burdens. This scholarship has helped me purchase all the materials needed for my classwork and is very beneficial when it comes to paying for my housing. I am currently enrolled in the School of Business and Industry at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. My major consists of Business Administration where I am using my degree to equip me with the skills to become a successful entrepreneur. Currently I have interned with the United States Golf Association at the 2018 United States Open. I am currently in my last year of school and have maintained a 3.2 GPA throughout my years at FAMU. I would like to say once again, thank you!

Chase Killette
Senior | FAMU

I wanted to take the time to thank you for giving me this scholarship and opportunity to further my studies. I am currently a 4th year Informational Technology major with a concentration in Security and Health Informatics. I’m also part of the Men’s Golf Team. I am currently doing exponentially well in my studies and excited to see what lies ahead. My future plans include getting an internship before I graduate in the field of database management. I have made the dean’s list every year since I’ve been enrolled and I’m looking forward to another one. Again, thank you so much for your support, it means the world to me.

Mahindra Lutchman
Senior | FAMU

I am honored to be selected as one of the recipients of the Bill Dickey Scholarship. Your generosity is greatly appreciated. I am planning to meet and exceed the grade point average while participating in college golf. I look forward to pursuing a career as a Pharmacist upon my graduation in May of 2023. I am confident that the expertise and knowledge I will gain here at Savannah State University will allow me to make a lasting difference to the pharmaceutical industry.

As I continue my education at Savannah State University. I will follow my degree plan and take courses to complete my degree in Chemistry, and I plan to immediately enroll into pharmaceutical school. During the summer of 2020, I plan to intern in a program that is currently researching a cure for cancer. I plan to volunteer in the local community and on campus. I am praying I will get the opportunity to study aboard, that would be a dream come true.

All of these opportunities would be extremely difficult without the funds from the Bill Dickey Scholarship. The scholarship has covered a large part of my tuition which alleviated my financial burden and allowed me to focus on my studies.

Ja’ Davia McCallum
Freshman | Savannah State University

I attend Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia and am a freshman majoring in Biology. My experience at Moorehouse has been very informative and exciting. I am getting all A’s and B’s in my classes. I have learned so much about African American culture at Moorehouse and also about myself. I plan to apply for internships for the summer and someday aspire to be a neurosurgeon. I would not have had the opportunity without the help of the March Foundation and BDSA Scholarship. Thank you for your continued support.

Arron-Michael Pendleton
Freshman | Morehouse College

It am honored to receive the Bill Dickey Scholarship. I thank all those involved for their continued dedication throughout the years. Without you, none of this would be possible for me. You make a huge difference.

Currently, I am studying Professional Golf Management at Ferris State University. From all the people that I have met, to pains I have endured, I could not be happier that I chose Ferris State. It has made me grow in such positive ways.

As of right now, I am in Manchester Massachusetts at Essex County Club doing an internship working outside and teaching juniors.

My goals for this upcoming school year are bigger than ever. I really want to see myself put out my full potential in whatever I am doing, whether that’s in the classroom or on the golf team. As for my studies, I want to have a GPA at 3.6 or higher this year in all my classes. As for the golf team, my goal is to get top three at Conference and make it to my Regional as an individual.

Again, thank you will so much for your continued support throughout my golf and college career as it has played a tremendous part of who I am today and who I will become. My goal is to keep striving to become the best I can be. Thank you all so much

Andrew Proctor
Junior | Ferris University

Going into my third year at Harvey Mudd College is nothing short of exciting. In my first two years at HMC, I had to learn to balance competitive Division III golf with challenging academics. Throughout this process, I always had a sense of relief because I knew that I had the financial support of the Bill Dickey Scholarship Association. In this way, I was able to focus on learning the Computer Science and Mathematics I aim to use in my career. This fact combined with my research experience at University of Houston last summer prepared me for the Facebook University Software Engineering Internship I had the chance to be a part of this past summer. While at Facebook, I learned how to build Android mobile apps and built one with peers under the guidance of the Facebook team. This experience allowed me to expand my interests from just data-centric computing to that along with software engineering.

Thanks to your support, I will be able to focus on discovering more areas of Computer Science I like and preparing applications for both data-centric and software engineering internships at companies like Google and Bloomberg if I choose not to return to Facebook to discover more about software engineering. The fact that I do not have to focus on the financial burden of attending a school like Harvey Mudd is due in large part to having the continued financial support of the BDSA and words cannot express how grateful I am for that. Thank you again for your funding of my college education.

Camille Simon
Junior | Harvey Mudd College

My first year at Stanford University was a challenging one. Growing accustomed to living across the country, meeting new people, and doing new things all on top of rigorous academics was tough to navigate, but knowing I had the financial support of the Bill Dickey Scholarship Association made things a little easier. Instead of worrying about paying tuition, I was able to focus on learning about the history of the U.S. public education system, the basics of chemical engineering, and the natural history and ecology of Northern California. The breadth of topics covered in my classes helped me to decide to pursue engineering and to secure an environmental engineering internship at Chevron. While there, I completed EPA-mandated reporting and established processes for environmentally conscious waste management at Chevron’s off shore platforms.

Thanks to you, I plan to gain more technical skills through my chemical engineering coursework, with the goal of landing a summer internship at a consulting agency or research institution. I am extremely grateful to have the continuing financial support of the BDSA. Thank you again for your generosity in funding my college education.

Julia Simon
Sophomore | Stanford University

Thank you very much for the scholarship I was awarded this semester. This scholarship has given me the opportunity to attend Michigan State University, play collegiate golf and obtain a great education. I am majoring in Business Advertising Management. I presently have a 3.086 GPA and I plan to graduate in the spring of 2022. I have played golf for one and a half seasons and have a 71.9 average. I helped my team reach the NCAA Regionals last year and have had two top-ten finishes this fall. After graduation, I hope to work in the golf business helping with advertising and marketing for companies to expand their brands. Your generosity is helping me achieve my goal and I am very appreciative.

Troy Taylor II
Sophomore | Michigan State University
Westerville, OH

Thank you for awarding me the Bill Dickey Scholarship. It has really helped me and my family with the expense of college. As of now, I am studying Political Science with a minor in Communications. With this, I hope to continue my education in Law School. Along with that, I am a mentor for incoming African-American students to the University of Arizona and I am helping them work their way through a predominantly white campus. I am maintaining a 3.0 GPA and looking into joining different clubs. Thank you again for your continued support.

Zaria Thompson
Junior | University of Arizona