Athens Drive Magnet High School PTSA’s Senior Scholarship Awards

The Athens Drive PTSA offers three $500 scholarships for the following categories:

• All-Around: for students who perform well academically and are active in school and their community.

• Civic Minded: for the students who are particularly passionate about volunteerism, whether it be in school, in their community, or both.

• Perseverance: for the students who have faced challenges, such as learning disabilities, illness, family problems, or other issues, and continued to be successful in high school.

To apply for these scholarships, seniors MUST be members of the Athens Drive PTSA by April 28, 2025.

The scholarship application period will be from Sunday, January 12, 2025 through Monday, April 28, 2025 .

Please email scholarships@athensdriveptsa.com with any scholarship questions.

Apply Now!

PTSA Scholarship winners will be announced during the Senior Awards ceremony on May 22, 2025.

2023-2024 Scholarship Winners

     This year, we had a record number of entries in this category, and multiple judges said this was the hardest to judge.  Every student who applied had a compelling story, and the judges were quite impressed with their perseverance. 

     This year’s winner started off life with several medical issues, but by first grade, it seemed those challenges were behind her.

     Then unfortunately, things changed her freshman year.  She woke up every day in constant pain.  Some days the pain was bearable and other days completely debilitating.  Despite endless doctor visits and tests, doctors had no specific diagnosis.  Meanwhile, you can image the toll this pain was taking her on mental health, which developed into severe anxiety.

     Yet despite it all, she has decided to push through the pain.  In her words, “My pain has turned me into a fighter”.  She joined the JV volleyball team, JV lacrosse team.  In her senior year she has managed the volleyball team.  She also has joined many clubs, such as National Honor Society, Key Club, Environmental Science, Hiking and Hammocking, National Art Honor Society and acted as president of FCCLA.

     In addition to all of that, she has worked a job and earned Summa Cum Laude all four years.

     This fall, she plans to attend Campbell University with the goal to become an environmental lawyer.  She wants to ensure that land is developed sustainably, starting here in NC, then spreading nationally, and internationally.

     Based on her previous experience, we think the world should watch out, because this young lady will not give up until she achieves her dreams.

Congratulations to our Perseverance winner, Katie Beth Cornell.

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     In her essay, Rachel  did a great job of describing an All Around award recipient.

    I believe that a well-rounded student not only excels in academics and participates in extracurricular activities, but is an example to their peers and teachers of what a good person should be. They put the needs of others before their own, step up voluntarily when help is needed, take accountability for their actions, and are respectful to everyone they encounter.

In addition to outstanding grades, this student participated in a wide variety of activities.

 Chorus – 4 years

• Cross Country, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track … 3 years

• Community service includes:

  • Miracle League of the Triangle

  • Cary 1st Relief Society

  • Singing for senior citizens at two living centers

  • Lake Johnson Big Sweep

  • Nativity Choir & Orchestra

  • Class President of Church Youth Council – 4 years

• Teacher & Event Counselor at Camp MusArt

• Piano teacher

• Babysitting

As you can see, this student has an obvious passion for music, and at Brigham Young University, she plans to pursue a career in Music Education.

Congratulations to our All-Around winner, Rachel Richards.

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     For this young man and his family, civic mindedness is a way of life.  Starting as early as 1st grade, this young man realized that not all the students in his class had the same opportunities as he did.  He learned from his guidance counselor that as many as 1 in 5 children in North Carolina are at risk of hunger.

      In lieu of presents for his 7th birthday, this student collected food donations.  Soon after that he held his first food drive where he collected 1400 pound of food and $305.  Just a year later, he had recruited over 150 volunteers for this food drive and they collected $11,000 and about 9,000 pounds of food.

     And that was just the beginning … He started a non-profit, and in the last 10 years, they have donated over 100,000 pounds of food, raised over $100,000, built 4 school/community gardens and installed 9 little food pantries.  His non-profit supports the backpack buddy programs in local schools, including the one here at Athens.

     This fall, he will attend NCSU and major in Agricultural Education.  His goal is to teach others about the importance of agriculture while helping students understand global issues like hunger and poverty.

       With his wealth of experience and his obvious passion of helping others, I think we can all agree that this young man has already started changing the world.

Congratulations to our Civic-Minded winner, William Winslow.