Cydnie Proctor attends the State College of Florida through the Dual Enrollment Program. She is the daughter of Phillip and Christine Proctor, all formerly of Washington, DC. A resident of Florida for the last five years, she started Manatee School for the Arts in 7th grade and has continuously progressed to become MSA president of student council and a member of the National Honors Society. Having performed more than 200 community service hours, she has been active with Habitat for Humanity, Keep Manatee Beautiful, G.T. Bray, the Palmetto Agricultural Museum and volunteering with Manatee Memorial Hospital for more than 70 community service hours as well as community service cleanups. Cydnie will graduate from MSA this May, then attend the University of Florida beginning in the summer 2017 semester. She will attend medical school after completing undergraduate, internship and residency work in the course of pursuing dreams of becoming a cardiologist.

Essay Recipient

Kiarra Womack is a senior at the Out of Door Academy (ODA_ where she maintained a 4.10 GPA. Continuously involved in activities throughout high school, she serves as class representative for the Honor Council and the student council, president of SPECTRUM - Diversity Leadership Club, Vice President of the National Honor Society, secretary and event coordinator for the Key Club, member of the Gay-Straight Alliance club, and a tour guide of the Student Admission Team. An intellectual and creative spirit, Kiarra is a member of the National Society of High School Scholars while serving as first-chair orchestral violinist in 2013-14 and she is currently section leader. Her robust academic and creative life is rounded out by interaction with the softball team as a co-captain, or subsequent recipient of the Coach's Award and named Most Valuable Player. In recognition of her academic excellence, Kiarra has received several awards including QuestBridge College Prep Scholar, the Cum Laude Society Award and National Spanish Exam Award. A recipient of the Ronald G. Gelbman Leadership Award, Notre Dame Book Award, and the President‘s Volunteer Service Award for 2014-15 and 2015-16, she was a Brandeis University Global Youth Summit 2016 delegate a scholarship recipient to Washington University-St. Louis Summer Experiences Program, a 2016 Gateway Ron Brown Scholar, and recipient of the AP Scholar Award for 2016. She is active in Girl Scouts of America and received the Girl Scouts of Gulf Coast Florida 10 Year Award. Kiarra also participated in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority's mentoring program, and Delta Gems from 7th - 11th grade where she received several awards including Leadership Awards and Academic Excellence Awards, Sisterhood Award 2012-13 and Spirit Award 2016. Ever diligent, she is completing her Girl Scouts Gold Award and Girl Scouts 10 year service award.

The daughter of Shirley Wiley, Kiarra is a member of New Bethel A.M.E. Church of Lacoochee, Florida and participates in the Florida Church School Convention. She aspires to attend Stanford University where she will study neuroscience, psychology, or bioengineering. She will ultimately like to be a psychiatrist.

Essay Recipient

Sheila Uria is a high school senior with a 4.58 weighted GPA in Cambridge Academic International Certificate of Education (AICE) program and her school's Visual Performing Arts Music Department. Sheila plays violin and piano and is bilingual in Spanish and English. Currently undertaking French classes, she intends to major in international studies coupled with a combined interest in music and languages and ultimately hopes to work in a world organization such as the United Nations.

Essay Recipient