News Summary
Columbia celebrated the spirit of service with the announcement of the 2025 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dream Keeper Scholarship winners. Twelve students received scholarships based on their community contributions, with Halen Moss from Dreher High School winning $1,000. The annual Honor the Dream Food Drive also achieved significant success, collecting 3,694 pounds of food for those in need, affirming the community’s commitment to service and giving back.
Columbia Celebrates the Spirit of Service with Scholarship Awards
On January 25, 2025, Columbia announced the winners of the much-anticipated 2025 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dream Keeper Scholarships along with the results from the Honor the Dream Food Drive. This annual celebration not only aims to honor Dr. King’s legacy but also to recognize students for their amazing contributions to their communities. Let’s dive into the exciting outcomes!
Dream Keeper Scholarship Winners Shine Bright
The Dream Keeper Scholarship program is uniquely crafted to spotlight the hardworking students of Richland School District One who exemplify Dr. King’s values of service and commitment. This year, twelve talented students were awarded scholarships, showcasing their dedication to making a positive impact.
Among the winners, an exceptional eighth-grade student, Sophie Peay from Hand Middle School, earned first place in the middle school division with a scholarship of $250. Close on her heels, Zoe Bouknight from Hopkins Middle School secured second place, receiving $175. Not to be overlooked, Layla Gregg-Jennings from Alcorn Middle School took home third place, winning $100. Additionally, an honorable mention went to Avery Jasnow from Crayton Middle School, recognizing her outstanding effort!
In the elementary school division, fifth-grader Tevaughn Samuels from Hyatt Park Elementary School led the pack with a $100 scholarship for his first-place finish. Second place went to Amina White from Caughman Road Elementary for a prize of $75. Deasia Richmond from A.J. Lewis Greenview drew third place, winning $50, and Sophie String from South Kilbourne Elementary captured an honorable mention of $25.
The high school division had some stiff competition as well, with Halen Moss from Dreher High School claiming first place and a whopping $1,000 scholarship! Jayiana Moody from Eau Claire High School came in second with $500, and Azzaziyah Slater from C.A. Johnson High School took third place, earning $250. Lastly, Ja’Nyle Jones from Lower Richland High School received an honorable mention of $100 for her commendable efforts.
Honor the Dream Food Drive Shows Generosity
In addition to the scholarship awards, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Honor the Dream Food Drive also made waves this year. Running from November 11 to December 9, 2024, in partnership with Harvest Hope Food Bank, the drive succeeded in collecting an impressive 3,694 pounds of food, which translates to 3,078 meals for those in need within the community.
Burton-Pack Elementary School emerged as the top contributor in the elementary school division, generously donating 636 pounds of canned goods. Meanwhile, in the middle school division, Southeast Middle School took the lead with a donation of 209 pounds. In the high school division, Richland One Middle College set the bar high with an outstanding contribution of 406 pounds.
Community Spirit Shines Through
This yearly event brought together students, families, and community members, all rallying around the critical ideas of service and giving back. The recognition of these outstanding students and the massive food drive success has united the Columbia community in a celebration of compassion and commitment to helping others.
With such remarkable achievements, it’s clear that the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. lives on through these bright students, demonstrating that together, we can continue to make our community a better place!
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