SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
Meet our 2023 Scholarship Winners
ELI QUARLES
Eli recently graduated from St. Albans School in Washington, DC, where he was a member of the varsity basketball and track teams and Captain of the varsity football team. When he wasn’t excelling in sports or putting in the work to maintain his 3.3 GPA, Eli could be found acting with his fellow Thespian Society members or participating in group Bible Study. This fall, Eli will begin his college career with his future classmates of 2027 at Morehouse College, where he will study economics.
“The story of the Montford Point Marines has inspired me to attend Morehouse, an HBCU. I’m done being one of a few. I want to surround myself with people like me. People who are all working to succeed in a country that tries its best to push them down. I want to struggle through life with other Black men, because together, I believe anything can be accomplished. .”
Eli Quarles, St. Albans School, Class of 2023
SAVANNAH ALEXANDER
Savannah recently graduated from School Without Walls Senior High School in Washington, DC. Her high school career was full of achievements which included but was not limited to founding and leading a co-Presidency of the schools chapter of the Sunrise Movement a national youth led climate advocacy organization- 10th to 11th grades. Savannah’s hard work did not go unnoticed, she was accepted and will be enrolling in classes at Spellman this fall.
“The Montford Point Marines underwent significant barriers to serving our nation, yet they preserved and thrived…The determination of the Montford Point Marines inspires me to continue being a diverse leader and to balance various responsibilities…just as the Montford Point Marines persevered over racism to serve their country, I am committed to using my skills and experiences to serve my community positively.”
Savannah Alexander, School Without Walls, Class of 2023
SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
Meet our 2022 Scholarship Winners
CHEYENNE DEGROSS
Cheyenne DeGross recently graduated from Academy of the Holy Cross in Kensington, Maryland. In addition to helping educate her classmates about the importance of mental health as President of “Tartans Minds Matter”, Cheyenne was also a member of the National Honor Society, National Latin Society and National Social Studies Society. She plans to attend George Mason University Honors College in the Fall where she will major in communications.
“Whatever I do in life I know I want to write and use my voice to make a difference in others lives. My voice is my most powerful attribute, my voice tells my story but also the stories of others. I am a strong activist of my beliefs, and what I stand for. I love to tell others of the knowledge I have and spread important and positive messages. I hope my words reach a large group of people, through my writing, and because of my aspirations of becoming a journalist or published author.”
Cheyenne DeGross, Academy of the Holy Cross, Class of 2022
ISABELLA PLA
Isabella Pla recently graduated from Academy of the Holy Cross in Kensington, Maryland, where she was a member of the National Honor Society and a peer minister. As the daughter of two former Marines, Isabella is no stranger to the sacrifices our US Military and their families make everyday. Isabella plans to attend Mount St. Mary’s in the Fall where she intends to major in BioChemistry.
“One way I believe I can share the legacy of the Montford Point Marines to other people is by preaching and teaching others about it, whether in school at home or in public. While these men may have looked differently and had to be treated differently, they still had the same morals and followed the same core values of any Marine which is honor, courage and commitment.”
Isabella Pla, Academy of the Holy Cross, Class of 2022
SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
Meet our 2021 Scholarship Winners
EZINNE ANYANWU
Ezinne Anyanwu recently graduated from Benjamin Banneker Academic High School in North West, Washington DC. During her senior year she was Co-President of the African American Student Union and, President of the Spanish Honor Society. She also serves as a Ward 5 Representative of Youth Government, DC. Ezinne plans to attend Howard University in the Fall where she intends to study medicine.
“I have been inspired to seek change and provide solutions to problems in my community in both the United States and the African diasporic countries. This is the reason why I want to go to college to fulfill my sense of responsibility to my community. I aspire to be a doctor whose range extends from academia to funding rural clinics in Nigeria, which generally have limited medical resources and technology compared to those of the United States. After medical school, I plan to volunteer in certain wards in DC such as wards 7 and 8, which have limited access to health resources. Additionally, I plan to volunteer in Nigeria and other African countries to help provide solutions that will improve the quality of life in my international community.”
Ezinne Anyawu, Benjamin Banneker High School, Class of 2021
AYA SETTLES
Aya Settles recently graduated from Benjamin Banneker Academic High School in North West, Washington DC, where she was a member of the National Honor Society and Student Government Association. Outside of school Aya is President, and a charter member of the Nation's Capital, Teen Chapter of Jack & Jill of America, a Girl Scout, and a budding entrepreneur. Aya has her own e-commerce business called The Aya Jene Collection selling vanity mirrors, and founded a program called iSeeMe.Love, which inspires teen/tween girls to love themselves by offering workshops promoting positive self image, self esteem and self-love. Aya plans to attend Spellman in the Fall where she intends to major in economics and minor in psychology.
“By majoring in economics, I hope to learn about money and how to manage it successfully; skills I will need to achieve the goal of owning my own business. My psychology studies will give me a better understanding of how to lift people struggling with mental health issues, especially teens so that I can continue to build my iSeeMe campaign.”
Aya Settles, Benjamin Banneker High School, Class of 2021