SCHOLARSHIP
Congratulations to the 2025 JACA Scholarship Recipients
Nathanael Francis
Nathanael Francis is a recent graduate of Piedmont High School with a stellar GPA of 4.5. He was actively involved in numerous school-related activities, such as varsity track and field, member and organizer of S.O.A.R. (Stepping Over Academic Roadblock), host and weatherman of the Broadcast Team, Friendship Missionary Baptist Church youth leader, National Honor Society, playing basketball, and making gifts and learning activities for elementary school students. Nathanael connects his love for track and field to his Jamaican mother and their heritage. He would like to utilize transformative experiences in his life to empower children for them to “win” in any capacity. This will be a continuation of his altruism of organizing drives and givebacks to underprivileged children“. Nathanael has been able to serve as a strong leader on all of the teams he has been a part of; he takes responsibility for his actions, and holds his peers accountable,” says his coach. His math teacher shares this sentiment. He will attend UNC at Chapel Hill in the fall of 2025.
Patrick Mills
Patrick Mills is a recent graduate of Phillip O. Berry Academy with a GPA of 3.3. He participated in extracurricular activities such as track and field and cross country and worked at Frankie’s Fun Park and the Road 2 Hire Internship. Patrick received accolades such as the MVP award, the Coaches award, and the Sportsman Award. Patrick’s story takes him from tragedy and trials to triumph. His Advanced Placement teacher states, “He has grown each year academically by seeking and applying support and challenging himself to continuously take honors classes—raising his grade point average.” The consensus is that he is dedicated to making life better for himself and others.
Patrick is being awarded the Gloria Brown Scholarship in honor of the matriarch of the Brown family and mother of the president of JACA. Mrs. Brown was an advocate of education, teaching literacy to adults in Jamaica through a community program known as JAMAL during the late eighties and nineties. She was a leader in her community. Operating as the community Justice of the Peace and leading other community social programs. She was an outstanding track and field athlete at her all-age school, where she was awarded one of the highest honors, the Governor General Award. We believe, in addition to an outstanding academic career despite adversity, Patrick’s involvement in his community, his participation in athletics, and other leadership qualities, that Patrick met the requirements for the Gloria Brown Scholarship. He will attend NC Central University in the fall of 2025.
Truly Hannah Moss
Truly Hannah Moss is a rising first-year student at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She connects events from her early childhood as a premature baby to the resilience she demonstrates in her daily life. Truly also draws strength from her single mom, whom she watched struggle to care for her after her parents divorced. Truly holds a strong GPA of 3.654. Her accomplishments in BETA Club, Junior Civitan, March of Dimes, and the Giving Heart Project, where she performed over one hundred hours of community service, along with her strong academic performance, have prepared her well for the next chapter of her future. Truly believes in giving back to her community and honors her mother’s example of helping others even when there is not much to give. Truly continues to work with the March of Dimes, raising funds and awareness for premature babies; she brings her firsthand experience to the work she performs. Truly is empowered with lessons of empathy and the importance of lifting others as you climb.
Zion Allen
Zion Allen is a rising first-year student at NC A&T State University, majoring in construction management. He is enthusiastic about community involvement and feels this area of study will allow him to participate in creating affordable housing and improving the housing crisis, primarily within the African American community. Zion holds an impressive GPA of 3.82. His accomplishments in the National Technical Honor Society, the National Honor Society, INROADS College Links, the Phillip O’ Berry Game Club Co-Treasurer, Kappa Beautillion Militaire, and as Senior Patrol Leader for the Boy Scouts of America have prepared him well for the next chapter of his future. After Zion graduates from college, he wants to focus on revitalizing disadvantaged areas that remain hard hit by bad infrastructure, such as broken roads, etc.