Lina is a compassionate and service-driven student originally from Morocco who has made a lasting impact through her commitment to volunteering and leadership. Lina boasts a 3.78 GPA and is actively involved in several volunteer roles, including serving with Babies and Beyond, mentoring peers through the Purgolder and AVID mentor programs, and providing childcare support at her local Masjid. As a member of the National Honor Society, she consistently fulfills and exceeds the required service hours, reflecting her dedication to community involvement. In addition to her volunteer work, Lina is a program leader with Madison School & Community Recreation (MSCR), where she continues to support and uplift others. Her hard work and achievements have earned her numerous recognitions, including the Successful Sister certificates in both 2024 and 2025, a BSU Certificate of Achievement in 2024, and multiple AVID Certificates of Achievement. Lina shares that she has never known “normalcy” in her life, but she embraces adversity and sees it as something that has shaped her into a more nurturing, empathetic person. Through her difficult life experiences, she has developed a deep desire to care for others—both emotionally and physically—which has inspired her to pursue a career in nursing. This fall, Lina will become a first generation college student when attends UW–Madison to study nursing and continue her journey of academic excellence, resilience, and service to others.

Naaliyah is a determined and accomplished first-generation student with a 3.42 GPA who has shown remarkable dedication to both her academics and community. Naaliyah has served as a manager for both the football and basketball teams and has volunteered her time reading to students at Westside Elementary for “Read Your Heart Out” and helping with Prairie View Middle School’s fun run. She has been employed since the age of 15 and has never been without a job, working over 21 hours a week in food service, hospitality, and as a dietary aide at Talamore Senior Living Center. Her commitment to service is reflected in her efforts to launch clothing drives at her school, along with an internship at Maydm focused on STEM empowerment. Her time with Maydm and the guidance of her mentor, Christina Outlay, have been pivotal in fueling her aspirations—especially when paired with her passion for cosmetics and her personal research and experience surrounding eczema. In 2023, Naaliyah turned this passion into purpose by launching a small social business, creating homemade skincare products for eczema-prone skin. Her innovation earned her 1st place in the CEOs of Tomorrow Pitch and Launch competition and a $1,000 scholarship, of which she generously donated 15% to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Naaliyah is also a multi-year recipient of the “MLK Outstanding Young Person” Award (2020–2024) and has earned the “Social Innovator” Badge from CEOs of Tomorrow. She has been recognized with numerous academic honors, including the National Society of High School Scholars nomination, the “Adopt-A-Future” Scholarship, an Academic Award Star Pin, an Academic Honor Chenille Letter, and placement in Honors English. Naaliyah’s resilience, leadership, entrepreneurial spirit, and unwavering drive make her a powerful example of excellence and a deserving recipient of the Carter G. Woodson Scholarship. Naaliyah will attend UW-Milwaukee this fall to study Business Administration.

Harmony is a dedicated student with a 3.45 GPA who exemplifies leadership, service, and resilience. An AVID scholar, Harmony is also an active leader in her school’s Black Student Union and played a key role in organizing the BSU HBCU Fair. She volunteers with Read Your Heart Out, inspiring young students through literacy engagement, and competed on the Girls Varsity Basketball team. In addition to her school commitments, Harmony works at both Walmart and with the Madison School & Community Recreation (MSCR) program. She has overcome significant adversity and, through that journey, discovered a deeper sense of purpose and servant leadership. Her volunteer work at the United Way Christmas Giveaway, the Pay It Forward holiday campaign, and the River Food Pantry on Madison’s North Side has fueled her passion for giving back and making a difference. Harmony’s efforts have been recognized with the prestigious MLK Outstanding Persons Award, and her unwavering commitment to education, community uplift, and leadership makes her a truly deserving recipient of the Carter G. Woodson Scholarship. Harmony is deciding between UW-Milwaukee and John C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina but will be studying Criminology because she knows underrepresented groups and misrepresentation of those groups often leads to a lack of understanding and negative perspectives about minority communities within the justice system, something she wants to change.