BOOK SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
Rose Varner Gaskins, Founder and Sasha E. Lindsey, Executive Director along with our 2015 Book Scholarship Award recipient Bawi Uk.
2015 Book Scholarship Award Winner
Last year's Book Scholarship Award was presented to Mr. Bawi Uk of Hammond High School. The Changing Destinations staff had the honor of presenting this award during the school's annual Senior Awards Ceremony on May 19, 2015. Mr. Bawi Uk received a $500.00 scholarship to aid in his college expenses. Congratulations Bawi!!!
The Book Scholarship program is publicized each year via our website and social media; high school guidance counselors, announcements and publications; public access television, local area businesses, local community centers including public libraries.
2016 Book Scholarship Award Winner
“Changing Destinations: Journey To Excellence, Inc.” awards book scholarships to at-risk high school seniors who are planning to attend a 2-year or 4-year college or university, or a technical/vocational institution. The Book Scholarship Program is to assist students with the high cost of textbooks & study materials.
This year's Book Scholarship Award was presented to Ms. Daisy Martinez of Hammond High School. Ms. Martinez received a $500.00 scholarship to aid in her college expenses. She plans to attend University of Maryland, Baltimore County in Fall of 2016. Congratulations Daisy!
Rose Varner Gaskins, President and Douglas Hammond, Chairman along with our 2016 Book Scholarship Award recipient Daisy Martinez.
Carletta Sweeney, Fundraising Chair along with our 2017 Book Scholarship Award recipient Joshua Brandon Burrell.
2017 Book Scholarship Award Winner
The Changing Destinations staff had the honor of presenting our prestigous award during Hammond High School's annual Senior Awards Ceremony on May 16, 2017. Mr. Joshua Brandon Burrell received a $500.00 scholarship to aid in his college expenses. Read an excerpt from his essay below.
"By the time a high school senior graduates in the United States they will have spent approximately 16,380 hours, nearly two full years, in school over the course of their lives. Most recently in 2014, the high school dropout rate was at sixteen percent (www.nces.ed.gov). The rate of high school dropouts has decreased heavily, but the value of education and knowledge in youth ironically decreases more and more. Nevertheless, education is important through the ways that it blossoms creativity and increases social awareness. No matter how much technology advances, the benefits of self-knowledge are undeniably benevolent."
2018 Book Scholarship Award Winner
Tekye Evans Jr. is a graduating senior at Hammon High School. He is a scholar athelete participating in football, basketball and track. He is the proud recipient of our 2018 Book Scholarship Award presented Monday, May 21, 2018 at Hammond High School's annual Senior Awards Ceremony.
Tekye will be attending Salisbury State University in the fall and will also be hitting the field as part of the college's football team. Tekye not only received a $500.00 scholarship to aid in his college expenses from Changing Destinations, but he also received thousands in scholarship money from various institutions. We wish Tekye the best in his future endeavors and we cannot wait to see what the future holds for him.
Annika Adams, Project Manager along with our 2018 Book Scholarship Award recipient Tekye Evans Jr.
Sasha Butler, Joseph Jenkins, Annika Adams, Kenneth Apana-Korley, Kirk Gaskins, LaJasmine Jefferson, Rose Varner-Gaskins
2019 Book Scholarship Award Winner
Kenneth Apana-Korley is a graduating senior at Hammon High School. He is the proud recipient of our 2019 Book Scholarship Award presented Tuesday, May 21, 2019 at Hammond High School's annual Senior Awards Ceremony.
Kenneth Apana-Korley was born in Ghana and came to the US with his parents as a small child. Throughout his youth he has maintained a passion for education which was instilled in him through his parents. He is a theater enthusiast and creative spirit who loves teaching and working with children. He plans to attend Towson University to study secondary English education, theater arts and American Sign Language. Kenneth is definitely equipped to positively impact communities and the world. We wish Kenneth the best in his future endeavors and we cannot wait to see what the future holds for him.
2020 Book Scholarship Award Winner
Brenda Moreno is a graduating senior at Hammond High School and the recipient of our 2020 Book Scholarship Award. She presented an inspiring scholarship application on the importance of higher education. The proud daughter of Salvadoran immigrants, Miss Moreno will be the first in her family to continue her education by attending college.
Described by her high school teachers as compassionate,
dedicated, and determined, Miss Moreno is a star athlete playing on the lacrosse team for her high school. Her parents taught her the importance of education and she is excited to start the next chapter in her educational journey with the University of Maryland this fall. We are proud of Miss Moreno and truly believe she is equipped to positively impact communities and the world. We wish her the best in her future endeavors and we cannot wait to see what the future holds for her.
Brenda Moreno, 2020 Book Scholarship Award Winner