SCHOLARSHIP
Congratulations to the 2026 JACA Scholarship Recipients
ALMAMY TAMBA
Almamy Tamba is a recent graduate of Heritage High School. He has a weighted GPA of 3.8 after sitting AP and Honors classes. He is the product of hardships, resilience, and principles of a Senegalese father and Jamaican mother. His hard work is based on discipline, religion, and perseverance, considering the obstacles his family faced. He is well-balanced with school, athletics, and community service. Almamy is a member of the wrestling team and has volunteered for Backpack Buddies, which provides food to children who experience food insecurity. He is also involved in the Black Student Union of a predominantly white high school. It was while volunteering as a kennel technician in his school’s vet assisting program that he decided to become a veterinarian. He will attend Tuskegee University this fall, majoring in animal, poultry, and veterinary sciences.
AMAYA ROGERS
Amaya Rogers is a recent graduate of Cuthbertson High School. She has a weighted GPA of 4.1 after sitting AP and Honors classes. She has participated in Spanish Club, Spanish Honor Society, National Honor Society, BETA Club and National Society of High School Scholars. Amaya is a Brace Family YMCA Camp Counselor, soccer and volleyball sports broadcaster and despite her schedule, is CPR and Microsoft Office Suite certified. Amaya has stated that her African American history has shaped who she is, her values and the way she sees the world. The impact of slavery still carries through her family, shaping her strength, perseverance and determination. She does not take opportunities for granted because she understands the sacrifices that make them possible. She plans to carry on her family’s legacy by focusing on her education, serving her community and uplifting others. She has been accepted to Elon University.
JONATHAN MAYE
Jonathan Maye is a recent graduate of Hopewell High School. He has a weighted GPA of 4.3 after sitting in honors classes. Even though he was on the honor roll in his earlier years, Jonathan stated that he was a child with a spectrum disorder. He wouldn’t follow instructions without clarification, and this was sometimes misconstrued as defiance. After being homeschooled, he was integrated into high school. It was there that the engineering class helped him find his niche. It helped him to build strong friendships, excel academically, and turn curiosity into a passion. Jonathan has participated in the Carolina Panthers Stadium of the Future challenge (he won $13,000) and interned at a NASCAR electronics manufacturer (designing technology for the racing industry) Keller Technologies (developing the Helios Electron Microscope and improving suture machines) earned his FAA student pilot license (completed his first solo flight at 16), plays various instruments for his local church, and designed a custom circuit board (aimed at helping school systems). He has been involved in several engineering internships and will attend North Carolina State University, majoring in engineering.
KIMANI LEWIS
Kimani Lewis is a recent graduate of Sugar Creek Charter. He has a weighted GPA of 3.8 after sitting Honors classes. He has participated in 100 Black Men, the National Honor Society, the Academic Club, the STEM Club, and the Black Student Union. He has been a member of the varsity soccer, varsity basketball, and track and field teams. Kimani has been a lifeguard and assistant coach who is CPR and AED certified. He has received the Academic Honor Roll, National Merit Scholarship, and National Youth Leadership for Engineering awards. Kimani states that the resilience of his Caribbean and African American people has instilled and inspired him to succeed. Their strength has become the foundation of his perspective, and their legacy fuels his determination to strive for excellence in everything he does. Mental health is an area where African American and Caribbean communities have historically been underserved, misunderstood, and stigmatized. This has led him to pursue a PhD and to become a doctor specializing in psychiatry at UCONN. He will attend the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences with a major in psychological sciences.
MIKIAH MARSHALL
Mikiah Marshall has been influenced by the experiences of her family, leaving their home countries of Haiti, Barbados, and Grenada for a better life. She states that her education is not just a personal achievement but the hope and dream of her family. She has worked hard to maintain her 3.6 GPA at Piedmont Community College while a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and NC Global Scholar in phlebotomy training. During her volunteer tenure in healthcare, Mikiah noted the lack of representation of Black and brown workers. Respect is very important, and after witnessing disrespect in health care, it propelled her to pursue a career in medicine. She states that her Caribbean roots are the foundation of her drive to succeed. Mikiah notes that through hard work, determination, and service, she intends to honor her family’s legacy while creating opportunities for others. This journey continues in the fall at Winston-Salem State University.
NIA APPLEBY
Nia Appleby is a recent graduate of Hickory Ridge High School. She has a weighted GPA of 3.8 after sitting Honors classes. She has participated in dance, cheerleading, gymnastics, sports medicine, indoor/outdoor track & field, student council, the National Society of High School Scholars Ambassador, and the National Technical Honor Society. She is a member of Harrisburg Youth Council, Union County EMS, the Atrium Health Summer Teen Volunteer Program, and Big Brothers Big Sisters. Nia states that her heart belongs to sports. She has always wanted to move, have fun and push boundaries. She joined track and field and loved being pushed outside her comfort zone. The more she played; sports shaped her not only physically but mentally. Nia joined the sports medicine program and found her niche. She will study Kinesiology (exercise science) this fall at NCA &T State University.
STEFAN HIBBERT JR.
Stefan Hibbert Jr. is a recent graduate of Bonnie Core Leadership Academy. He has a weighted GPA of 2.5. Stefan states that he attended a wealthy, predominantly white high school but transferred to Hopewell High School after a few mishaps. He was exposed to a lot and made a few bad choices that taught him valuable lessons. Every experience taught its own set of lessons. He had coaches as mentors who helped him to navigate some of his issues. Despite his many challenges, he still managed to obtain a 2.5 GPA. Stefan played varsity basketball and football and was a scorekeeper; worked at Sam’s car wash; and volunteered at Samaritan’s Feet and Bradley Middle School (guiding students into high school) as part of his constant effort. Athletics and volunteering helped to keep him grounded and focused when everything else was going haywire. At the age of seventeen, which seems like a lifetime of experiences, he’s prepared for his new journey at Catawba College to make a change for better in the world.
ZOEY HOLMAN
Zoey Holman is a recent graduate of Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology. She has a weighted GPA of 3.2 after sitting AP and Honors classes. She has been a member of the swim team (swim instructor in the summer), wrestling teams, and part of the school’s chorus. Zoey was also on the National Technical Honor Society, the Brown Girls Big Things Club, and community engagement activities with women at Starbucks. The strong sense of community, supporting each other and celebrating achievements from her Caribbean and African American heritage, has shaped her perspective. Zoey says that she plans to use this legacy of resilience, community, and cultural appreciation to become a criminal defense lawyer. She wants to help the marginalized have a voice and navigate the judicial system. She plans to attend NCA &T State University in the fall, majoring in Liberal Arts (Pre-Law).
ZOLA MEACHEM
Zola Meachem is a recent graduate of Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology. She has a weighted GPA of 3.2 after sitting AP and Honors classes. She has participated in Bridges to Healthcare Intern, Adidas, the Humane Society of Charlotte, Crown Haven Health and Rehab, Novant Health, TAP Tennis, the Women's Varsity Tennis team, the National Tennis Honor Society, the National Society of Black Engineers, the Greater Enrichment Program Charlotte, and the Dream Center Charlotte. Zola is CPR, AED, and first aid certified (Stop the Bleed). Growing up as an African American, according to Zola, has shaped the way she sees the world as both challenging and empowering. Acknowledging the rich history has made her aware of her responsibility to carry the legacy forward and has helped her to choose her career path. Zola will study Human Development and Family Studies at Elon University this fall to become an occupational therapist.
HAILEY YEE
Hailey Yee is a recent Porter Ridge High School graduate with a 4.5 weighted GPA and a 3.9 college GPA from South Piedmont Community College. A published author and active leader in numerous academic and service organizations, Hailey developed a passion for advocacy after witnessing homelessness at a young age. Through volunteerism and community outreach, she dedicated herself to helping others. Of Jamaican heritage, she will attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill this fall.