2022 Inspired to Help Scholarship Award Winners
These students demonstrated achievement in academics and extracurricular involvement. Each candidate shared thoughtful essays on their future endeavors to be considered for the 2022 Inspired to Help Scholarships
By awarding these scholarships, we are investing in the future of our community
Candace Mongo
Candace is an undergraduate at Jackson State University, majoring in Criminal Justice. “Hardworking, driven, perceptive, no-nonsense and creative” are just a few of the words used to describe Candace. Candace has served on Jackson State’s Student Government Association and was Sophomore Class President. She also serves as a board member on the Fannie Lou Hamer Pre-Law Society and Campus Board of Activities. Candace has spent time in the past year working as an Event Coordinator for a Texas State Senate Candidate. Candace states “I have always been passionate about helping others, especially the ones who cannot defend themselves. Through education, I will be able to learn how to properly defend the wrongfully accused and learn about judicial processes that protect targeted people”.
Ke’lyon Archie
Ke’lyon is a 2022 graduate of W.T. White High School in Dallas and will be attending Abilene Christian University. Ke’lyon has spent the past two summers taken part in the UT Southwestern HPREP and Pre-JAMP courses for high school students interested in Pre-Med and Biology. Passionate about his work Ke‘lyon possesses “confidence and exudes leadership qualities.” He is a young man with academic goals and a true compassion for others.
Clark Yarborough, Jr
Clark is a third -year student at Ouachita Baptist University, where he is majoring in Sports Management. Clark’s hobbies include Track & Field, Poetry, Spoken Word, Dance and Movies. Clark is a member of the school’s football team and serves as a resident assistant (RA) and has managed to maintain a 3.00 G.P.A. Clark states “Proverbs 3:5-6, tells me to “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways, acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths”.
2023 Inspired to Help Scholarship Award Winners
Candace Mongo - Jackson State University / Criminal Justice
Candace is consistently described as dedicated, passionate, enthusiastic, and cheerful, making her a delight to mentor and learn from. Her creative energy and idealism are balanced with a practicality that ensures tasks are completed. As a leader, community activist, and future professional in the Criminal Justice field, Candace is known for never disappointing and always exceeding expectations. Her ambition, proven skills, and remarkable academic record are why she is admired.
At Jackson State, Candace has been active in the Student Government Association (SGA), serving as Freshman Class Senator (2021-2022), Sophomore Class President, and Miss Junior (elect August 2023-May 2024). She is also a board member of the Fannie Lou Hamer Pre-Law Society, part of the SGA Leadership Council (Summer 2022-Spring 2023), and the Campus Board of Activities. Academically, Candace shines, having been inducted into the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, named to the Dean's List (Fall 2021 & 2022), the President's List (Spring 2022 & 2023), and maintaining an impressive 3.85 GPA.
Rashonda Lovett - Texas Women’s University / Psychology
RaShonda, a first-generation college student, embodies the drive and determination not just to earn a degree but to stand out as an academic scholar.
She has made a significant impact on her peers through her intelligence and commitment to task completion. She achieved a 4.0 GPA in her last semester and has maintained an impressive 3.5 cumulative GPA, all while actively participating in her sorority.
Known for her commanding presence and conviction when she speaks, RaShonda's military service has endowed her with discipline, poise, and directness. She is consistently praised for meeting and exceeding every challenge and deadline. Additionally, she is deeply involved in her community, leading numerous service projects throughout the year.
Clarence Sanders - Morehouse College / Political Science
Clarence has surmounted numerous obstacles to reach his current standing, yet his determination refuses to let him fail. Facing challenging circumstances, he attended seven different schools during his educational journey. He is pleased to share that, despite any difficulties, he has flourished. His achievements include consecutive football honors for three years, becoming the District heavyweight wrestling champion, and serving as the captain of the Manadeers, a boys' dance team.
Clarence takes pride in eschewing a "woe is me" attitude, choosing instead to view adversity as a chance for growth. He asserts, "Obtaining an education is crucial for me to break generational cycles and to establish myself as more than merely a statistic."
2024 Inspired to Help Scholarship Award Winners
Clarence Sanders - Morehouse College / Political Science
This is Clarence’s second year being honored with the Inspired to Help Scholarship award. The scholarship committee was impressed throughout the process with his ability to succeed and thrive at the highest collegiate level while being involved in multiple outside activities. Such success spoke volumes about his abilities and potential.
One of Clarence’s professors remarked that Clarence is a masterful young writer. “His command of the language is unmatched among his peers. His proficiency is not just about a high vocabulary or strong, logical organization; what sets Clarence writing apart from others is his ability to blend words and sentences into precisely the idea he wishes to convey.” It was also emphasized that Clarence was an incisive thinker. “Clarence has a unique ability of cutting directly to the heart of an issue”.
These two qualities—sophisticated written expression and a keen intellect—will take Clarence far, not just in college, but in life in pursuit of whatever career he decides to pursue. The world is open to Clarence exactly because Clarence is open to the world.
LaKyra Hobbs - Hampton University / Architecture
Education is important to LaKyra because she prides herself on demonstrating resilience in overcoming obstacles. LaKyra was raised to believe that character and integrity are the behaviors that we exhibit when no one is watching and because of this she believes character will take you much further in life than money and charisma ever will. She takes pride in participating in activities that benefit the community.
Academics are a priority, but she also finds time to volunteer at her church, at a local food bank, and Hampton University Alumni House. One of the most important lessons she has learned is that “to overcome anything, you must have faith, work hard, and have perseverance”.
LaKyra has set personal goals for herself, and upon graduation she aims to put her degree to work in the nonprofit sector as a city planning architect who serves the underrepresented and underserved population. Her goal is to work in her hometown with members of the City of Dallas to engineer a solution for the homeless and food insecurity problem in the lower-income area of South Dallas.
Rachel C. Williams - Langston University / Nursing
One of Rachel’s favorite scriptures is Luke 12:48, which states, "To whom much is given, much is required." This scripture resonates deeply with Rachel, and she recognizes the opportunities that she has been presented with.
Rachel strongly believes that obtaining an education is immensely important. She shared that “Education is not merely a means to gain knowledge; rather, it shapes one's character, broadens horizons, and empowers individuals to contribute positively to society. Moreover, education imparts qualities essential for personal fulfillment and success in any endeavor.”
Rachel believes that her studies will open doors to career paths where she can utilize her talents and skills to make a positive impact. She would like to be an advocate for those whose are often marginalized and to contribute towards building a community where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive.
In the past, Rachel has been actively engaged in an array of activities in the North Texas area where she challenged herself to juggle both academic demands and her love for volunteerism. Rachel is a 12-year member of the Girl Scouts of North Texas, where she was a 2-time recipient of the US Presidential Volunteer Service Award. During her high school years, Rachel also immersed herself into a host of community activities and volunteer efforts.