Scholarship Recipients
2024 Scholarship Recipients
It is with great pleasure that we announce the 2024 Felecia Patrice Myers Irick Memorial Scholarship Recipients. We have awarded the following 6 young ladies with a total of $5,000 in
Scholarship Funds to be used toward their academic endeavors.
Jayla Hawkins
Morgan State University
Nursing
Jayla Hawkins is a dedicated junior at Morgan State University, pursuing her passion for nursing with a specialization in labor and delivery. She is a distinguished five-time Ben Carson Scholar, celebrated for her exceptional academic achievements. Beyond her studies, Jayla is deeply involved in her community. She volunteers as a mentor and holds the role of Vice-President of the Always Divine Alpha Delta chapter. She is also an active member of the Clara I. Adams Honors Council, contributing to campus leadership and academic initiatives. Jayla's long-term aspiration is to earn a doctorate in nursing and establish a healthcare practice in her hometown of Baltimore, Maryland, where she aims to make a significant impact on maternal healthcare.
Victoria Robinson
University of South Carolina
Public Health
Victoria Robinson is a senior from Fort Mill, South Carolina at the University of South Carolina. A Public Health major on a pre-medical track with the plan to attend medical school and pursue a career in Family Medicine or Dermatology. She is honored to be a recipient of this scholarship, as it will assist with her pre-professional path to help underserved and minority populations suffering from health determinants!
Niyah Youmans
University of South Carolina
Public Health
Niyah Youmans is a senior from Alpharetta, Georgia pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Public Health at the University of South Carolina. After her undergraduate years, she plans to attend dental school and later become a pediatric dentist. She believes all children have a right to dental care, and she will carry this throughout her career.
Harmony Onyinyechi Madu
Johns Hopkins University
Public Health and Natural Sciences
Harmony Madu is a rising junior at Johns Hopkins University from Abingdon, Maryland. She is double majoring in Public Health Studies and Natural Sciences and is on a pre-medical pathway. Harmony is a first-generation college student and the daughter of an immigrant. Her ultimate career goal is to become an obstetrician and to center Reproductive Justice and holistic care in her practice.
Davyia Burgess
University of South Carolina
Biological Sciences and Psychology
Davyia Burgess is a rising Senior at the University of South Carolina (Go Gamecocks!) who has majored in Biological Sciences with a minor in Psychology to accompany. She plans to stick around Columbia for another year and obtain her Masters in a program that will assist her into being accepted into a PA program or MD program. She is originally from Greenville, SC where she was born and raised by her mother’s side of the family. Davyia spends the majority of her time cooking with her friends or attending events with her sorority sisters, whenever she is not at one of her two on-campus jobs. Being a Fall 23 initiate of the Theta Gamma Chapter, she is extremely appreciative of the legacy of Soror Felecia Myers Irick & the opportunity to be a recipient of this year’s scholarship.
Jermyzha Alexander
University of South Carolina
Nursing, Psychology & Health
Jermyzha Alexander is a Junior Nursing major with a minor in Psychology and Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior at the University of South Carolina. After college she plans to find a job in Columbia, SC then move to Charlotte, NC. Her next step will be to apply for medical school to become a surgeon. While on campus she is a mentor in the multicultural assistance peer program (a program to provide first year students with a trained mentor), the student nursing association, and savvy. In her free time she likes to hang out with friends, shop, and go out to different ice cream parlors.
2023 Scholarship Recipients
It is with great pleasure that we announce the 2023 Felecia Patrice Myers Irick Memorial Scholarship Recipients. We have awarded the following 3 young ladies with a total of $5,000 in
Scholarship Funds to be used toward their academic endeavors.
Joi Jones
Morgan State University
Family & Consumer Science
Joi Jones is a Senior from Chicago, IL at Morgan State University pursuing a bachelor's degree in Family and Consumer Sciences on the Fashion Merchandising Track with plans on becoming a buyer post-graduation. Her ultimate career goal is to one day have a career in luxury retail. Joi is a first-generation college student and plans to inspire little girls of color that anything is possible and strive towards their dreams no matter how hard it may seem. Joi's favorite quote to live by is "Be the change you wish to see in the world."
Jada Payne
Morgan State University
Psychology
Jada Payne is a graduating Senior at Morgan State University and is from Washington, DC. Jada is also a first-generation student pursuing a degree in Psychology with plans to attend graduate school in School and Counseling Psychology. Jada's hopes after Graduate School is to become a Child Psychologist and help mold the new generation of children and adolescents to learn more about coping with life, relationships, and mental health.
Naeemah Merchant
Morgan State University
Architecture
Naeemah Merchant hails from Prince George’s county Maryland and is a recent graduate of Morgan State University. She received her bachelor’s degree in architecture and is continuing her education at Morgan State through the accelerated graduate program pursuing a master’s degree in architecture. She plans to pursue a career in architecture, initially in the federal government, with aspirations to one day open her own firm with a heavy representation of African American women, as they are the least represented in the field.
2022 Scholarship Recipients
It is with great pleasure that we announce the 2022 Felecia Patrice Myers Irick Memorial Scholarship Recipients. We have awarded the following 7 young ladies with a total of $5,000 in
Scholarship Funds to be used toward their academic endeavors.
Brooke Foyles
Morgan State University
Nursing
Jocelyne Lawson
Coppin State University
Early Childhood Education
DeMia Goddard
Coppin State University
Nursing
Alexis McCullough
University of South Carolina
Marketing
DaShanti D. Price
University of South Carolina
Public Health
Elexus Kelly
University of South Carolina
Pre-Nursing
Alexis Waring
University of South Carolina
Exercise Science
2021 Scholarship Recipients
Maya West - Morgan State University
Maya West is a senior at Morgan State University pursuing a bachelor's degree in biology with plans to apply to medial school upon graduation.
In West's personal narrative essay, she describes her passion for working in the medical field.
"While I have yet to determine my specialty, I know for sure I want to serve and help people in my community. Being a young woman of color, the health of my people holds a very special place in my heart. I have found that African Americans suffer from diseases and underlying healthcare issues more than any other race. According to WebMD, in the US, 41% of blacks have high blood pressure as compared to 27% of whites. Diabetes is 60% more common in black Americans than in white Americans. I desire to turn these numbers around."
Laurynn Jeter - University of South Carolina
Laurynn Jeter is a junior at the University of South Carolina pursuing a bachelor's degree in exercise science.
In one of her essays, Jeter shares how a female leader inspires her.
"There are many women worldwide that have influenced me with their inspirational work, but perhaps the woman that has influenced me more than anyone else is my mom. My mom is undoubtedly a leader to me and everyone in my family. She has always been a God-fearing woman who has lived her life following the teachings of the Word, therefore leading by example. She has also taught the Word to me and my siblings. Being a leader means to have compassion for others and my mom is very compassionate and loving to anyone she encounters. By showing me her love, I have learned to care unconditionally for others and be genuinely good towards others. Being selfless is another good quality to have as a leader and it is a quality that my mom shows daily. My mom is a social worker, therefore it is basically her job to always do for others, but she does not only do for others because it is her job. She genuinely cares about other people no matter what background they come from. Seeing how selfless she is and willing to do things for other people has impacted me because it has made me want to give back to others whenever I can."
Christal Harvin - University of South Carolina
A senior in the University of South Carolina’s Honors College majoring in public relations and sociology with a minor in leadership studies and a cognate in corporate social responsibility, Christal Harvin plans to work as a creative strategist for a public relations agency, where she can create innovative social media content and strategy for brands that are inclusive of groups that have historically been marginalized and portrayed negatively in the media, especially people of color.
"As someone who knows what it is like to feel like you cannot truly explore your passions, I am immensely inspired by Mrs. Irick’s life and legacy. She unlocked countless opportunities for students who may have never had someone so committed to advocating for them and implementing programs for their success. Additionally, she brought her own unique style and flair to every room she entered and walked in alignment with her divine gifts, which I know is not always easy for Black women in positions of leadership to do."
