Honors
Lighting the Way
Scholarship recipients honored to be chosen by black alumni who came before them
From the sparkle and shine of their dress, At the 2005 Black Alumni Reunion, offices in other organizations as well and
you’d never guess that the doctors, organizers challenged alumni to contribute volunteered with such community service
lawyers, teachers, judges and business exec- $1,952 each (representing the class year of groups as Habitat for Humanity.
utives at the Black Alumni Reunion awards Harvey Beech ’52, UNC’s first black grad- “It took so much to get to UNC,” she
banquet were also well diggers, fire builders uate) to become founding members of the said. “In order for everyone else to keep on
and road pavers. But Light on the Hill Light on the Hill Scholarship Fund. succeeding and achieving, we have to help
Scholarship winner Jaimee Daniels recog- Seventy-six alumni did so, one contributing each other out. To be recognized by such a
nized them as such. She distinguished group
harkened back to a ref- of people means
erence to a proverb more to me than
made by Rickye any other scholar-McKoy-Mitchell ’ 81, the ship.”
ALBEE INCLE
Harvey Beech Christa Carter of
Outstanding Alumni Charlotte has not
Award recipient who yet declared a major
also earned her law but is considering
degree from UNC in anthropology. Fluent
1984: “We all drink from in German, she
wells we did not dig and completed a three-warm ourselves at fires week study abroad
we did not build.” program in
“To receive a scholar- Germany while in
ship from the people high school. Her
who paved the path for The Light on the Hill Scholarships are about the previous generations of successful black alumni helping the new genera- path to UNC
tion of students get on a solid foundation. This year’s scholarship recipients — from center left, freshmen Christa Carter,
me to get here meant so included organizing
Jaimee Daniels, Chelsea Merritt and Alya Elsayed-Ali — are flanked by members of the scholarship committee, from left,
much to me,” Daniels Ernest Goodson ’ 76, GAA Board of Directors Chair Randy K. Jones ’ 79, committee Chair Richard “Stick” Williams ’ 75, “Tolerance Day” and
Robyn Hadley ’ 85, Kraig Holt ’ 82 and Kelvin Harris ’ 82.
said. “They started it all. “Young Heroes of
Without them, I wouldn’t be here.” significantly more. Hope,” and she helped develop an after-
The Light on the Hill Scholarship, now Since then, the committee has continued school program. She has volunteered at her
in its second year, doubled the number of to work on fundraising strategies. The local library and for Hands-On Charlotte,
recipients from two in its inaugural year to number of donors has grown steadily. the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation,
four this year. The selection committee Donations range from a few dollars to sev- CROP Walk and others. She sees herself as
chose from more than 100 applicants for eral thousand dollars and come from indi- part of an international community now
the $1,000 nonrenewable scholarships given viduals and organizations, Hadley said. The and in the future.
only to black freshmen. The winners — number of scholarships awarded depends “What I’ve achieved, I’ve done on my
Daniels, Christa Carter, Alya Elsayed-Ali on the amount in the scholarship fund. own, but it is tied in with people who’ve
and Chelsea Merritt — reflect not only “We are hopeful that one year we can give come before me,” Carter said. “Winning
academic excellence but students’ potential a full scholarship,” Hadley said. “That’s our the scholarship has given me confidence
to contribute while at Carolina and after long-term goal.” that people can see the kind of person I
graduation. This year’s recipients represent a variety am. It gives me encouragement to be the
Robyn Hadley ’ 85, co-chair of the Light of talents and goals. person I am. It is nice to be recognized in
on the Hill Scholarship committee, thanked Jaimee Daniels of Durham plans to the black community for things I’ve done.”
the GAA, in particular Tanea Pettis ’ 95, major in business and biology to prepare Alya Elsayed-Ali of Virginia Beach,Va., is
who coordinates the Black Alumni for a career as a pediatrician and start a working on a major in applied science and
Reunion, for help in soliciting applications. pediatrics practice where patients will be biomedical engineering to prepare for
“Scholarship applications really took off served regardless of the parents’ financial sit- medical school. She believes that develop-this year,” Hadley said. “Having gotten one uation. When she succeeds, she would like ing models of processes in the human body
year under our belt, we really worked to offer a scholarship based on academic and understanding design and engineering
together as a committee to tweak some accomplishments and drive to African- will make her a better doctor. On the swim
things and do a better job. We were able to American students at UNC who plan to and track teams in high school, she already
start sooner to get the word out to alumni study medicine. President of the National has had a research paper presented at a con-and others about these scholarships.” Honor Society in high school, Daniels held ference by one of her professors. She speaks
