USA Funds Helps McDonald’s Honor Black History Makers of Tomorrow

Twenty Indiana high school students received scholarships Feb. 14 at the Indiana Statehouse as part of McDonald’s Restaurants of Central Indiana’s Black History Makers of Tomorrow program. For each of the past five years, USA Funds® awarded $10,000 in support of the program.

The Black History Makers of Tomorrow program honors Indiana juniors and seniors who demonstrate exceptional leadership, character and community service. Scholarship recipients received a $1,000 college scholarship and were selected based on their academic achievement, character, community service and submitted essays. This year’s essay subject was “How Will Receiving a College Education Expand Your Role in Promoting Diversity?”

“We are extremely proud of the exceptional students who are receiving this year’s Black History Makers of Tomorrow scholarships,” said McDonald’s owner/operator Eric Moore. “The Black History Makers program is one of McDonald’s premiere educational outreach programs. It provides 20 students — regardless of cultural background — the educational foundation that will enable them to promote diversity throughout their careers. As McDonald’s representatives, it is a privilege for us to be able to honor these students for their outstanding achievements.”

State Rep. Carolene Mays honored the students with a House Resolution during the ceremony.

The 2007-2008 Black History Makers of Tomorrow are as follows:

• Menan Assefa, Warren Central High School, Indianapolis.
• Erica Ellington, New Castle Chrysler High School.
• Emily Fawcett, Logansport High School.
• Traci Fuqua, Pike High School, Indianapolis.
• Aaron Garrett, Lawrence North High School, Indianapolis.
• Norris Gilbert, Key Learning Community, Indianapolis.
• Ernest Gray, Broad Ripple High School, Indianapolis.
• Mahogany Hanks, Bloomington High School North.
• India Jackson, Kokomo High School.
• Katelyn Kingseed, Kokomo High School.
• Brian Lahti, Fishers High School.
• Harrison Lin, Carmel High School.
• Lanial Madden, Fishers High School.
• Katherine McLean, McCutcheon High School, Lafayette.
• Victoria Meyer, New Palestine High School.
• Vedrana Mlakic, Ben Davis High School, Indianapolis.
• Raven Norman, Hamilton Southeastern High School, Fishers.
• Whittney Sorrell, Brownsburg High School.
• Louisa Varo, Columbus North High School.
• Jasmine Woods, Arsenal Technical High School, Indianapolis.

Scholarship recipient Ernest Gray wrote in his essay: “The stereotype I strongly dislike is the mindset that as a young African-American man, I am supposed to end up either dead or in prison. My goal is to become a pediatrician … and overcome all of these stereotypes and create a paradigm shift in the thinking of mainstream America.”