Decatur Housing Authority honors student residents with academic scholarships
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Left to Right: Artesha Channey (City of Decatur), Fardosa Hassan (Graduate), and Portia Langley (City of Decatur). Photo provided by the Decatur Housing Authority. (Credit: Greg White and Lee Williams.)
On Wednesday, May 29, the Decatur Housing Authority held its 28th annual Excellence Awards ceremony, recognizing student residents of the housing authority for their academic achievements.
According to Doug Faust, executive director of the DHA, the Excellence Awards are scholarships given to high school seniors and other adults who live in the DHA so that they can attend college or technical schools. Each year, the DHA authorizes approximately $30,000 to $40,000 in scholarships, but this year, the board will fund over $41,000.
The DHA offers three types of scholarships. The Initial Scholarship is awarded to high school seniors who successfully graduate high school and submit an application for the Georgia Association of Housing and Redevelopment Authorities (GAHRA) Scholarship Program.
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High school seniors who successfully receive a diploma or GED and miss the deadline for the Initial Scholarship can receive the Continuing Education Scholarships. These scholarships are also awarded to previous scholarship winners who are in good standing in education at a college or university, and adults looking to further their education.
Lastly, the Adult Education Scholarships enable adult residents to pursue their educational goals and seek scholarships to support their educational costs, Faust said.
Additionally, last night’s ceremony recognized the DHA’s Successfully Teaching Academic Readiness – or STAR – after-school program. The program, which has operated for 32 years, serves 92 low-income kindergarten through fifth grade students through tutoring, homework, reading and enrichment classes.
Faust believes the DHA’s focus on education helps its young residents achieve more.
“Our efforts with the scholarships […] empower our youth within our affordable housing to excel and achieve their personal goals,” he said. “Many of our students have achieved phenomenal educational successes with GPAs over 4.0 while being vital and giving members of the community by engaging in extraordinary community service and volunteering.”
This year’s recipients are:
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Students – 19 Continuing Education Scholarships
| Name | Amount | Prev. Scholarships | Bio |
| Eman Abdul Mahdi
| $1,000 | 3rd | Kennesaw State University Major: Accounting Plans on getting CPA after graduation |
| Mohamed Abdul Mahdi | $1,000 | 3rd
| Kennesaw State University Major: Industrial Engineering Technology Plans to get Masters in Industrial Engineering |
| Amina Atik | $1,000 | 4th | Attends Georgia State University Nursing is her major and she will graduate this year |
| Bana Atik | $1,000 | 3rd | Georgia State University Major: Marketing Career goal: MBA |
| Maynun Ahmed
| $1,000 | Attending Columbus State University Major: Biology Wants to get Master’s degree and work as Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner | |
| Lulu Atik | $1,000 | 3rd | Georgia State University Major- Speech Communications Plans to pursue a post-secondary degree at University of Georgia Wants to work abroad |
| Fadumo Dayib
| $1,000 | 3rd | Georgia State University Major: Criminal Justice Wants to get more than one degree |
| Faiza Haji
| $1,000 | 2nd | Agnes Scott Major: International Relations Career goal: communications specialist with the United Nations |
| Walied Haji
| $500 | 2nd
| Georgia Piedmont Technical College Major: Automotive Technology Career goal is to have own auto repair shop |
| Mia Houston | $1,000 | 3rd | University of West Georgia Major: Social and Behavioral Health Career goal: Social Worker |
| Abubakar Noor
| $1,000 | Major: Accounting Attending: Georgia State University | |
| Khadija Noor
| $1,000 | Major: Early Education Attending: Georgia State University Career goal: to be a teacher | |
| Antwan Person | $1,000 | 2nd | Major: Mechanical Engineering Attending: GA Southern |
| Fartun Sheikh | $1,000 | 2nd | Major: Psychology Attending: GA State University Career goal: become occupational therapist |
| Muslimo Sheikh | $1,000 | 3rd
| Georgia State University Major: Journalism Career goal: travel journalist or public relations |
| Ashari Smith | $1,000 | 3rd | Albany State University Major: Biology Wants to get Master’s degree and pursue Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine |
| Choyce Smith
| $1,000 | 5th | Albany State University Major in Nursing Wants to become Obstetric nurse |
| Abdiaziz Yussuf
| $1,000 | 2nd | Major: Psychology Attending Georgia State University Career goal: become a sport therapist |
| Isha Yussuf
|
$1,000 |
3rd
| Clayton State University Major: History & Secondary Education Will earn associates degree this summer Career goal: high school teacher |
2 Adult Scholarships
| Ayeshah Ashford | $500 | 3rd | Georgia Piedmont Technical College Major: Business Administrative Technology On President’s List of Academic Scholars |
| Quonisha Jackson
| $500 Plus $1500 from DEF is $2000 | 2nd | Attends GA Piedmont Tech Major: Early Childhood Education Wants to become a special ed teacher Special Congratulations for receiving a Decatur Education Foundation ECE Scholarship of $2,000 too! |
New Scholarships – 12 New student scholarships for High School Seniors in 2019
| Name | Bio | Amount |
| Keyona Wade
| Major: Sociology Attending: Georgia State Career goal: become a social worker in foster care | $1,000 now and $1,000 for three more years For a total of $4,000 |
| Antonio Kilgore | Major: Theology & Biology Attending: University of the Cumberlands Vice-President of the Career Association Club Awarded a $1000 DEF Scholarship too! | $1,000 now and $1000 for three more years for a total of $4,000 Plus $1,000 from DEF is $5000 |
| Montavious Dawson | Plans to attend Fort Valley State University Part of Youth Action Team and Decatur Prevention Initiative | $1,250 now and $1000 for three more years For a total of $4,000 |
| Tamisha Johnson | Fort Valley State University Talented makeup artist and hair stylist Member of DHS Cheer and Dance Team | $1,250 now and $1000 for three more years For a total of $4,250 |
| Khalid Noor
| Plans to attend Georgia Perimeter College Member of Hip Hop Therapy Group Interested in Psychology | $1,250 now and $1000 for three more years For a total of $4,250 |
| Tyrell Hall | Plans to Attend Fort Valley State University Was a member of Decatur High School Basketball team for all 4 years of high school | $1,500 now and $1000 for three more years For a total of $4,500 |
| Tamia Swint
| Plans to attend College Tutored children and volunteered at a nursing home. Started a Girl Talk Club and was President of that club | $1,750 now and $1000 for three more years For a total of $4,750 |
| Ashley Seaborn | Plans to attend Albany State University Volunteers at her local community center and food bank | $2,000 now and $1000 for three more years For a total of $5,000 |
| Emily Seats-Jordan | Plans to attend Fort Valley State University Co-captain for DHS girls varsity basketball Dual enrollment and worked at Krystal’s and Wendy’s | $2,250 now and $1000 for three more years For a total of $5,250 |
| Martize Smith | Plans to attend University of the Cumberlands Played for the Decatur High Varsity Football team-running back Solo debut broadcasted on GA Public Broadcasting JROTC Participant Award a $1,000 DEF Scholarship too! | $2,500 now and $1000 for three more years For a total of $5,500 Plus $1000 from DEF is $6500 |
| Fardosa Hassan | Plans to attend University of Georgia Helped organize the first-ever International Night at Decatur High School Very active in Model UN Awarded a $6,000 DEF Scholarship for four years, too! | $2,750 now and $1000 for three more years For a total of $5,750 Plus $24,000 from DEF is $29,750 |
| Mario Bembry | Highest Scholarship Award Winner Plans to attend Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Pursuing a law degree He is a social justice warrior Attended GA Piedmont Tech and had earned over 40 college credits already. Awarded a $1,000 DEF scholarship too!
· GAHRA Scholarship by the DHA Board. · Competed w/students from all over Georgia · Awarded GAHRA’s second highest scholarship · $1,000 a year for four years or $4,000. | $3,000 now and $1000 for three more years For a DHA total of total of $6,000 Plus $4,000 from GAHRA Plus $1000 from DEF is a total of $11,000 |
Source: Decatur Housing Authority
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