It’s that time of the year again! The time we announce the winners of the Brooke Elaina Thomas Foundation scholarship and celebrate the achievements, qualities and skills that earned them a place on our list of talented high school seniors who will receive the award this year.
It is our privilege to help them on their way to becoming the successful professionals they dream to be by covering a portion of their college expenses.
Thank you to the generous sponsors who have made this possible and congratulations to our amazing winners!
Kaysie Anderson, from Akron, Ohio, graduated from Akron Early College High School while earning an associate degree from The University of Akron in May 2024. She was captain of her dance team, a coding club member, and a student representative on the Akron Public School Board.
Now a computer science major at Morgan State University, Kaysie aims to enhance childhood education through video games. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, playing The Sims, shopping, and spending time with loved ones.
She is grateful to The Brooke Elaina Thomas Foundation for supporting her education.
Cordée Johnson, recent salutatorian of Gwinnett Online Campus High School, is a dynamic individual who combines academic excellence with community service and entrepreneurial spirit. As a leader on the Student Leadership Team, she demonstrated a commitment to fostering a positive school environment. Beyond school, Cordée engaged in community service, notably crocheting 40 newborn hats for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
From Lawrenceville, Georgia, Cordée's early passion for sciences has led her to pursue a microbiology degree at The Ohio State University. She aspires to contribute to parasitic relationship research in laboratory or water treatment settings. In her free time, she manages an online crochet shop, showcasing her artistic flair, and maintains a balanced lifestyle through exercise and quality time with friends. Cordée's diverse achievements position her as a promising individual with the potential for enduring contributions in her chosen field.
Zion Harris, a graduate of Jones High School in Orlando, Florida, held leadership roles as the president of the science club and co-captain of the swim team. Currently enrolled in North Carolina A&T to pursue a degree in chemical engineering, Zion is dedicated to extending his influence in leadership, academic excellence, and social change.
Motivated by a commitment to positive impact, Zion plans to leverage his skills and experiences to contribute meaningfully to the world. His aspirations involve supporting black businesses through creation and funding, as well as initiatives to establish urban farms and housing developments. Zion Harris stands poised to make a lasting mark by combining his academic pursuits with a vision for sustainable community development.
Jayda Roach is from Mableton, Georgia and a graduate of Pebblebrook High School where she was involved in many school activities. Along with being her student body president Jayda has also been a member of the National Honor Society, Beta Club, Cobb Student Leadership Academy, and her school’s homecoming queen. During high school, she danced in school at the Cobb County Center of Excellence in the Performing Arts and outside of school at her studio, Dancemakers of Atlanta. She is going to attend Howard University where she will major in dance while completing the pre-medical track. Jayda hopes to one day become a pediatric surgeon and save many lives.
Baron Walker is from Atlanta, Georgia and graduated from The Galloway School where he attended since the sixth grade as an A Better Chance scholar. He served as president of the Minority Empowerment Forum, tenor section lead in the chorus, and programming team lead for advanced game production which earned him Galloway’s Computer Science and Design Technology Book Award for excellence in technology. As a Duke TIP scholar, Baron has studied programming, physics, applied statistics, and game development at Georgia Tech, Rollins College, and the University of Georgia. His near-perfect score (34/36) on the ACT in the 10th grade landed him coveted spots as a Posse Foundation semi-finalist, in the UCLA Game Lab, and the All Star Code summer programs. In 2021, Baron led his track team to the state sectional finals. His talents earned him runner-up status in the 2019 New York Times Second Annual Student Podcast contest, and he is a three-time participant in the competitive Georgia All-State Chorus. Baron will major in computer science with a focus on software development at Boston University.
Ben-Gina Fantaisie is from Greenacres, Florida and a graduate of Atlantic Community High School where she was a member of the Student Government Association and the National Honor Society. Outside of high school, she enjoys dancing as well as designing websites for non-profit organizations. She will attend Florida State University and pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Science. She will focus her undergraduate research and development to become a Physician Assistant. She plans to pay this forward by continuing to engage in STEM related volunteering and mentoring activities to help today’s young people from underrepresented and nontraditional backgrounds learn about a future in this exciting field.
Neima Belewa is a graduate of Charles Herbert Flowers High School where she was a flag member in the Marching Band and an active member of the Drama Club. Neima also participates in her church’s dance ministry. During high school, she displayed an affinity for biology. She wants to be an advocate for women and children all over the world and build healthcare facilities in third-world countries. After attending McDaniel College, Neima plans to become an obstetrician-gynecologist, enabling her to provide care to the women and children in the community. During her spare time, she enjoys music, scrapbooking and roller skating.
Angelina Xu is a graduate of Ridge High School where she was a Principal and Solo Violinist in the Symphony Orchestra. Throughout high school, Angelina has committed herself to creating awareness for pediatric illness and defraying the costs of medical bills for patient families. She has also done extensive science and technology research to discover novel solutions to untreatable biomedical diseases. After attending Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Angelina plans to pursue research and become a public health leader to promote accessibility to healthcare to underserved populations. During her spare time, she enjoys ballet, rhythmic gymnastics, and YouTube workouts.
