Tamaya Odom's love of school has paid off in a big way.
The Statesville Middle School student is the recipient of the Victor E. Bell Jr. Scholarship, awarded yearly to 10 North Carolina seventh-graders.
With the scholarship, she'll receive $2,000 a year — from this year through her fourth year of college — to pay for her education, according to the award's Web site. In all, Tamaya could collect the scholarship's maximum, $20,000.
The scholarship, funded by the N.C. College Foundation, is aimed at encouraging middle school students to continue their education after high school.
"I'm really excited," said Tamaya, 12. "It's an honor to be nominated, and to actually win is really awesome."
Tamaya is the second student from Statesville Middle to be chosen for the scholarship since its inception three years ago.
Tamaya said her guardian and grandfather, Ralph Styers, cried when he heard the news of the scholarship.
"I'm glad I got it because it's helping me go to college," she said.
The keep the scholarship, Tamaya must maintain good grades and good attendance and pass her end-of-grade and end-of-course tests.
"I'll be the second or third person in my family to go to college," she said.
Tamaya was nominated for the scholarship by guidance counselor Lydia Mayberry and choral arts teacher Nicole Tilley.
Tilley said Tamaya is always on task, takes directions well and has been a joy to be around for the two years she has taught her.
"She's one of those students you can count on to do what you ask," she said.
Mayberry got to know Tamaya while working with her in one of her guidance groups.
She said she is a positive group leader and role model.
"She gets along well with other students and teachers," Mayberry said. "She's a joy to know as a student."
Tamaya said she loves school because she not only gets the opportunity to interact with friends and meet new people, but she is preparing for her future.
She said she aspires to be a psychologist because she wants to "help people who have issues from their past and help them cope," or a lawyer and "help innocent people and help put away those who did bad stuff."
"I want to do my part to help society," she said.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement