Keirston Brooks, Kendall Cook, Charnissa McCray and Alysia Rentz were this year’s recipients of Dr. Benjamin Franklin Recognition Day Scholarships, which were awarded by Lawtey’s Philadelphia Missionary Baptist Church on April 27.
Franklin, the scholarship fund’s namesake, was a member of Philadelphia Missionary Baptist Church.
The scholarships are awarded to students with an interest in medical/health professions.
Applicants were required to write an essay on their goals, objectives and need for financial assistance.
Keirston Brooks
Brooks, a freshman at Florida State College at Jacksonville who plans to eventually transfer to Jacksonville’s University of North Florida to earn a degree in Biomedical Science, wrote in her essay that “financial support is crucial in helping me achieve my dreams.”
“My mother, a strong and inspirational woman, has always done her best to provide for me and my siblings as a single parent,” Brooks wrote. “However, the financial burden of college is challenging. Despite working to contribute to my education, I often fall short, struggling to cover the costs from one semester to the next. Receiving this scholarship would not only ease that burden, but also allow me to stay focused on my studies and continue striving toward my goal of becoming a trauma surgeon.”
Her career goal was inspired by reading Maya Angelou’s “Phenomenal Women” at the age of 14, which taught her to always hold her head high and that her goals would be reached by following her heart.
“Angelou’s words taught me that being phenomenal is not about fitting into societal expectations, but about embracing one’s uniqueness, strength and determination,” Brooks wrote. “As a young, Black woman with dreams of entering the medical field, I have often faced doubts — both external and internal — about my ability to succeed in such a challenging profession. However, ‘Phenomenal Women’ reminded me that my confidence, my perseverance and my passion are what make me extraordinary. If I believe in myself, I can achieve anything.
“Maya Angelou’s life story also serves as a powerful example of resilience. Despite facing adversity, she never allowed circumstances to define her future. Her work as a writer, poet and activist broke barriers and empowered countless individuals, including me. Like Angelou, I have learned to hold my head high, recognizing that my dreams are valid and attainable. Her message of self-worth and determination has fueled my ambition to become a trauma surgeon.”
The desire to become a trauma surgeon is rooted in Brooks’ passion for helping others in their most-vulnerable moments.
“I want to be the person who provides life-saving care, who offers hope in moments of despair and who makes a tangible difference in people’s lives,” Brooks wrote.
Brooks also wants to inspire others to pursue their dreams, just as Angelou inspired — and continues to inspire — her.
“Maya Angelou once said, ‘If you’re always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.’ I refuse to be limited by expectations,” Brooks wrote. “I am determined to push boundaries, overcome obstacles and achieve greatness. I am a phenomenal woman, and I am ready to make my mark in the world of medicine.”
Kendall Cook
Cook, who will graduate this month from Bradford High School, has been working and saving money for college. She plans to continue to work while in college and wrote that the Dr. Benjamin Franklin Recognition Day Scholarship will help her toward her goal of not owing money after college.
“I plan to work one or two jobs full-time to hopefully cover most, if not all, of my tuition,” Cook wrote. “The loans I take out to help fund my college I will try to pay off within six months of graduation, so they don’t accumulate interest. For this, I have to be disciplined and maintain self-control in the ways that I spend my money.”
Her plan to earn a degree in Radiology at Santa Fe College was inspired by an injury she sustained as a cheerleader. She described the physical pain as “significant,” but added that “the emotional and mental toll this would take on me was more remarkable.”
“I was scared of what the outcome would be and what the recovery process would look like,” Cook wrote. “This led to me getting my first X-ray and MRI. Seeing the big machines and quiet, dark rooms was intimidating, but to the radiology staff, this was their safe space, where they could use their knowledge and technology to provide the most detailed insights that were crucial to my recovery. To me, I thought I would just be another patient, but to them, I was a priority and treated with the utmost care.
“During this time of pain and uncertainty, it was refreshing to have such positivity and kindness surrounding me. This sparked an interest in me.”
Cook realized radiology is more than capturing images and examining them; it’s about “providing patients with the care they need in their hardest times.”
“Through what I thought was one of the most challenging periods of my life was actually the inspiration that fed my desire to help others,” she wrote. “Going to college means more than just getting a paycheck to me. It means continuing my education and living my passion of helping others. With this scholarship, it will not only help fund my education, but help lift the weight of financial burden off of me so I can put more toward my education.”
Charnissa McCray
McCray, who is balancing work, school and a family, described the opportunity to apply for the Dr. Benjamin Franklin Recognition Day Scholarship as “a blessing.”
“I am a wife and mother of five children,” she wrote. “I’m currently employed full-time as a certified nursing assistant and in school full-time. My schedule is currently full, with no days off since school started, but I won’t complain. The wait is almost over. I’ll be praising God through the process until I get to the finish line of completing the nursing program.”
McCray is currently working toward becoming a licensed practical nurse and would like to continue going to school and become a registered nurse.
Through her journey, she plans to learn as much as she can about the profession and about the people who’ll be in her care.
“My student nursing objectives are to expand my knowledge of all different cultures and healthcare systems, enabling me to provide culturally competent care to diverse patient populations,” McCray wrote. “I would like to develop my ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team, collaborating with the physicians, therapists and other healthcare professionals. I would like to improve my time-management and organizational skills, ensuring efficient and effective patient care.”
McCray has been working extra shifts to support her household, but added that limits the amount of time she can devote to her studies and sleep.
“I’ve been praying for financial support so I can pull back from working extra shifts, so I could put more focus on my studies and passing exams to have a greater opportunity of getting through the nursing program,” McCray wrote. “Financial assistance would be a blessing for me and my family.”
Prayer is something she’s done throughout her educational journey, and she plans to continue to rely upon God.
“I constantly have to remind myself that to whom much is given, much is required, keeping my mind on Christ Jesus to keep my mind and heart balanced in these seasons of my life,” McCray wrote.
Alysia Rentz
Rentz will graduate this month from Bradford High School and wants to “set a standard that my younger siblings will look up to.” The oldest of three children said the Dr. Benjamin Franklin Recognition Day Scholarship would help her do that.
“Being selected for this scholarship would be a financial blessing and would take away the financial burden that exists from paying for college,” Rentz wrote. “One of my long-term goals is to graduate college without having to take out student loans. Being knowledgeable about financial decisions is a key strategy for being successful in life and would prevent hardship in the future.”
Rentz’s current goal is to earn a bachelor’s degree in Nursing, with the first step toward that goal occurring as a student at Santa Fe College.
Her family served as the inspiration to take this particular journey.
“Having the determination and drive to pursue a degree in the health field stems from my background of growing up in a family that always looked out for the well-being of not only family members, but everyone that one encounters,” Rentz wrote. “I have witnessed empathy shown to others, resilience, where I have personally learned how to manage stressful situations, advocacy of knowing when to speak up for myself and others and compassion, knowing when individuals just need to know that they genuinely matter to someone.”
