The Jackie Robinson Foundation Announces New Class of JRF Scholars

The Class of 2016 represents 23 States and will attend 42 Colleges and Universities

NEW YORK, Sept. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Sixty high school seniors who have demonstrated strong leadership potential and a dedication to community service have been named Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholars announced Della Britton Baeza, President and CEO of the Jackie Robinson Foundation. The JRF Scholars Class of 2016 was selected from over 1,700 candidates representing 23 States and the District of Columbia. They are enrolled at 42 colleges and universities.

"We are delighted to welcome this new class of Scholars to the Foundation," said Baeza. "They join a 40-year history of excellence and will benefit greatly from our comprehensive mentoring and leadership program. As we guide them through their college years, I am confident that they will both excel professionally and continue in the Foundation's tradition of public service and civic engagement."

Close to 1,400 Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholars have been selected since the first awards were made in 1973. Each new JRF Scholar receives $24,000 over four years to attend a four year accredited college or university.  

List of 2012 Jackie Robinson Foundation Award Recipients:

Nathaniel Abraham III from Columbia, SC attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Rashaun Bennett from Charlotte, NC, attending Davidson College
Breshawn Best from Tallahassee, FL attending Harvard College
Armani Black from Saint Paul, MN attending the University of Minnesota
Aja Blair from Atlanta, GA attending Tuskegee University
Iris Brewer from West Chester, OH attending Wingate University
Michael Brooks from Fresno, CA attending the University of California, Los Angeles
Kyra Brown from St. Paul, MN attending the University of Minnesota  
Kacie Cardenas from Katy, TX attending Baylor University
Omar Corona Monroy from Sacramento, CA attending the University of California, Los Angeles
Markieria Davis from Chicago, IL, attending the University of California, Los Angeles
Nii-Ofei Dodoo from Cherry Hill, NJ attending Tufts University
Calvin Dorsey from Denver, CO attending the University of California, Los Angeles
Trina Durham from Kansas City, KS attending the University of Missouri-Kansas
Cinneah El-Amin from Baltimore, MD attending Barnard College
Antonio Garcia from Federal Way, WA attending Arizona State University
Sennay Ghenbot from Germantown, MD attending the University of Pittsburgh
Ahmad Green Hayes from Irvington, MA attending Williams College
Alanah Grisham from San Diego, CA attending Spelman College
Shaquillla Harrigan  from Winder, GA attending Harvard College
Terrell Hemphill from Detroit, MI attending the University of Chicago
Verlin Herbert Jr. from Tyler, TX attending the University of North Texas
Matthew James from Pembroke Pines, FL attending Mass College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Kendale Johnson from Chicago, IL attending Vanderbilt University
Aaron Jordan from Palm Bay, FL attending  Georgia Institute of Technology
Linda Kerandi from Plymouth, MN attending the University of Minnesota
Jillian Kimbrel-Baker from Boston, MA attending University of Southern California
Kendrick Lang from Gaithersburg, MD, University of Miami
Jonece Layne from Beltsville, MD attending Princeton University
Hannah Lewis from Fort Myers, FL attending the University of Florida 
Langston McElroy from Los Angeles, CA attending Vanderbilt University
JeRonelle McGhee from Omaha, NE attending Clark Atlanta University
Bria McLinn from Chatsworth, CA attending the University of California, Los Angeles
Sierra Menzies from Dacula, GA attending Georgia Institute of Technology
Joshua Millings from Central Islip, NY attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Zainab Mohammodu from Arlington, TX attending Howard University
Khalif Moore-Stevenson from Oakland, CA attending San Jose State University
Kyle Nichols from Chicago, IL attending the University of Illinois
Matthew Nopah from Gallup, NM attending Fort Lewis College
Angel Nwachukwu from Houston, TX attending Duke University
Nkemdilim Nwaokolo from Brooklyn Park, MN attending the University of Chicago
Zenzele Olatunji from Elk Grove, CA attending Mills College
Ian Parker from Paradise Valley, AZ attending the University of Southern California
Julian Roby from St. Paul, MN attending Wiley College
Andre Rowe Jr. from Rich Square, NC attending the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
Karissa Royster from San Antonio, TX attending New York University
Armando Saafir from Wauwatosa, WI attending the University of Wisconsin – Madison
Cristal Salas from Inglewood, CA attending the University of California, Los Angeles
Laura Salinas from McAllen, TX attending the University of Texas – Pan American
Jocelyn Sheffield from Chesterfield, MO attending Tulsa University
Jordan Shivers from Florissant, MO attending Tulane University
Rohan Tanna from Frisco, TX attending the University of Texas at Austin
Cai Thomas from Miami, FL attending Boston College
Azurai Thompson from Philadelphia, PA attending Spelman College
Jordyn Turner from Plymouth Meeting, PA attending Dartmouth College
James Webb  from Chicago, IL attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Matana Williams from Liburn, GA attending Georgia College
Jazmin Wilson  from Tecumseh, OK attending Oklahoma State University
Olivia Woodward from North Richland Hills, TX attending Southwestern University
Daniel Wright from Augusta, GA attending Kennesaw State University

About The Jackie Robinson Foundation:

Established in 1973, the Jackie Robinson Foundation (JRF) is the nation's premier education and leadership development program benefiting minority students.  In addition to generous financial assistance, the Foundation provides four years of highly engaged, hands-on mentoring through a comprehensive set of support services including curriculum and career guidance, internship and permanent job placement, and practical life skills, resulting in a consistent nearly 100% graduation rate, more than twice the national average for minority students. Almost 1,400 JRF alumni are both leaders in their professional fields and consummate ambassadors of Jackie Robinson's legacy of community service. In the academic year 2011-12, JRF provided more than $3 million in scholarship assistance and program support to 208 students across the country. 

Media Contact:

ALLISON J. DAVIS
Director of Communications
[email protected]
T 212.290.8600, ext. 329

SOURCE The Jackie Robinson Foundation