Kinston High, Early College seniors shortlisted for top A&T scholarships
Kinston High School seniors Javiar Grady, left, and Kam Bradshaw are finalists for top merit scholarships offered by North Carolina A&T State University.
Whether it’s the celebrated music program or the top-notch science instruction or a connection as direct as family, North Carolina A&T State University has captured the attention of three of LCPS’s most successful graduating seniors. A&T has mirrored their interest by short-listing the trio for its most prized merit scholarships.
Kinston High School seniors Kam Bradshaw and Javiar Grady and Shamiah Hall of Lenoir County Early College High School are finalists for A&T’s Distinguished Scholars Programs – the Dowdy, the Cheatham-White and the February One scholarships. Each of the four-year scholarships covers tuition and other basic expenses for first-year students as well as enrichment opportunities, including study abroad.
The three students became scholarship finalists after being accepted into A&T’s Honors College – on the basis of their grades, recommendations and essays – and completing a video interview. They’ll spend Feb. 16-17 on the university campus in Greensboro getting to know more about the school, meeting fellow finalists and sitting for additional interviews.
“I know A&T has a very inclusive and engaging community and I’m excited about the opportunity to be a part of that community,” Shamiah said.
With a cousin who attended A&T, the university has been on the senior’s radar “for a while,” she said.
Just months away from graduating from Early College with both a high school diploma and an associate of science degree from Lenoir Community College, her focus on A&T has sharpened because of her intent to pursue a biology major and a career in medicine, possible pediatrics. “They have a great, great bio program,” Shamiah said.
Kam Bradshaw has a similar story. His mother, Tiffany Bradshaw, is an A&T alumnus and he’s an admirer of the university’s science program. “I want to go to school for science and become a dentist, so this is a good science school,” he said.
He’s headed to this month’s campus visit with a “be yourself” approach to the interviews and the encouragement of his grandfather, Donay Robinson, to envision college “as my future,” Kam said. “My granddad is one of my biggest motivators. He’s always motivated me to go to college. I’ve always pushed myself to do that.”
Kinston High classmate Javiar Grady heard the call of A&T and it sounded a lot like the Blue and Gold Marching Machine, the university’s award-winning band. Joining the Marching Machine could be the next step in Javair’s rapid progress from a novice musician as a KHS freshman to captain of his school band’s brass section and, as a senior, assistant drum major.
“Band has brought me a lot of inspiration since my freshman year,” he said. “My math teacher my freshman year asked me if I wanted to play the sousaphone. I was, like, I don’t know what it is but I’ll play it. She started teaching me in her classroom upstairs and somehow we moved to the band room and the rest is history.”
Music is a major interest for Javiar but not a college major. “I want to major in elementary education,” said Javiar, who would be the first in his family to attend a four-year college.
Still, his interest in the arts runs deep at Kinston High. He attended North Carolina Governor’s School in theater this past summer and is a member of the Drama Club and Gospel Choir. He is active in the FBLA, a business and leadership club, is a student representative on the School Improvement Team and works as an AmeriCorps student tutor.
Both Javiar and Kam are filling the last year of their high school career with Advance Placement courses and college classes through LCC.
Kam is also an AmeriCorps tutor and is a member of the Spanish Club, Art Club and Anchor Club, a service organization. He is a veteran of the KHS soccer team.
Shamiah’s recent accomplishments reflect her future goals. She attended N.C. Governor’s School in natural science, conducts undergraduate research through UNC-Wilmington’s CCURE program and is a member of her school’s Science Olympiad team. An AmeriCorps tutor, she is secretary of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society and a President’s List student at LCC.
The university’s top-notch science department has Lenoir County Early College High School senior Shamiah Hall considering North Carolina A&T, where she’s a finalist for the school’s most prized merit scholarships for first-year students.
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