Meet our past recipients.
2025 Recipient
Jaron Harris
Jaron is studying neuroscience at the University of Maryland with the support of our scholarship. Football shaped much of his early life, beginning with Sunday evenings at his grandmother's house and continuing into six years of youth league play. As a defensive end and outside linebacker, he learned how to "adjust in real time," skills that helped his team finish 4th at Nationals and taught him the value of versatility, teamwork, and leadership. Growing up in Cherry Hill, Jaron saw firsthand how "struggle became a normalized part of our residents' lives," which strengthened his commitment to expanding youth programming and mental health resources. During the pandemic, he created Cortado, a virtual community of more than 8,000 members, giving isolated youth a place to connect. As a RAMP scholar at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Jaron conducted research on the genetic determinants of cellular aggregation and examined how classroom noise influences stress during problem solving. He aims to become a physician-scientist who deepens our understanding of the brain and supports youth in under-resourced communities.
2025 Recipient
William Allen
William is beginning his freshman year at the University of Richmond with the support of our scholarship. He plans to pursue a path that bridges medicine and biomedical engineering, building on experiences that sparked his passion for STEM. From afternoons spent reading Science News magazines to hands-on research in the Hur Microfluidics Lab at Johns Hopkins, where he contributed to a published study, William has consistently sought out opportunities to learn and grow. He has also shadowed physicians, volunteered at Johns Hopkins Hospital, and taken on leadership roles in his school's Science Olympiad and chess teams. A lifelong swimmer, he credits the sport with teaching him the importance of consistency, teamwork, and resilience.
2023 Recipient
Ashton Mayeux
Ashton is studying cybersecurity and statistics at Bowie State University with the support of our scholarship. He continues his lifelong enjoyment of studying mathematics and is interested in learning how he can contribute to technology development. Ashton was involved in numerous sports growing up, where he notes that "with each sport, there was something unique that [he] learned that helped [him] grow as a person." We look forward to seeing Ashton continue to develop his skills in mathematics and technology, and we are excited to hear about the amazing innovations he inspires.
2022 Recipient
Akil Smith
Akil is studying marine biology at the University of Miami with the support of our scholarship. His interest in studying marine life developed through his work experience at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, and he aspires to not only further our understanding of ocean life but also to inspire greater representation of black males in STEM fields. Akil attributes his involvement in athletics to gaining lifelong skills including "leadership, vision, creating goals, knowing when to react, and calling the right plays." We are excited to watch Akil continue his exceptional devotion to academics, athletics, and leadership in the future.