Reviewed by: Callie Morrison
How one local nurse, engineer + manager scored this college scholarship—apply for $8K now
Reading time: 4 minutes
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What do a former female drum major-turned-nurse, an automotive engineer and a local nonprofit program manager who grew up dancing have in common? All three were students at Birmingham-area high schools who won Regions’ Riding Forward© Scholarship Competition. Keep reading to learn about their inspiring stories and find out how you can apply for this scholarship today.
Know before you apply for the Regions Riding Forward© Scholarship
- What it is: Regions’ Riding Forward© Scholarship Contest
- Awards: Up to two video and two written winners every quarter will receive scholarships of $8K (for a total of up to 16 winners per year)
- Who it’s for: High school + college students
- How to apply: Send in a video or traditional written essay on someone you know, who is part of your community + how they have helped you find your voice and build the confidence you need to reach your goals.
- When: Scholarships will be awarded four times a year, and students can apply at any time.
- Learn more—full eligibility + application details.
Meet 3 local Riding Forward© Scholarship Winners
We had the opportunity to speak with three young people who won previous versions of the Regions Riding Forward© Scholarship. Here are their stories.
Anna Wilkes, Gyn-Onc Nurse at UAB
Anna Wilkes, from Pelham, recently graduated from the UAB School of Nursing. In high school and college, you could find her marching in the band or serving as drum major. She’s currently working in her dream job as an RN at UAB Hospital.
- Why she applied: Financial need
- Inspired by: Jackie Robinson for his contribution to racial equality in baseball and in sports overall
- The difference the Riding Forward© Scholarship made: It helped pave the way to succeeding in UAB’s competitive nursing program and becoming an RN which was her dream job.
“It’s been a huge blessing. I now work in an inpatient gynecology/oncology unit where we take care of a range of women’s health issues. Understanding more about women’s health, learning about different types of cancers and being able to care for patients every step of the way is really rewarding.”
Anna Wilkes, Nurse, UAB
Brian Perryman, Student at UA, Co-op at Mercedes-Benz US International
Brian Perryman is originally from McCalla, Alabama. He’s currently a junior at The University of Alabama, where he’s studying mechanical engineering with a focus on the automotive field. He’s also doing a co-op at the Mercedes-Benz US International plant in Vance.
In his free time, he studies, works out and is involved with NSBE, the National Society of Black Engineers.
- Why he applied: To help cover gap not covered by another scholarship.
- Inspired by: Dr. Viola Acoff, associate dean for undergraduate and graduate programs and the first African American female faculty member in the College of Engineering at The University of Alabama, who was a trailblazer
- The difference the Riding Forward© Scholarship made: Eliminated money worries during the first year of college
“When you apply, do your best to stand out because Regions and other companies are looking for uniqueness, with different personalities and identities. They want somebody that’ll represent the whole program very well.”
Brian Perryman, Student, The University of Alabama, Co-op at Mercedes-Benz US International
Samantha Nelms, Nonprofit Program Manager at Elevate Birmingham
Samantha Nelms grew up dancing in Homewood, before heading to Waco, Texas to Baylor University for bachelor’s and master’s degrees in sociology and social work.
She currently works as the Program Manager for Elevate Birmingham, a nonprofit that teaches leadership development in Birmingham City Schools and provides mentoring and support to students throughout their high school career.
- Why she applied: She had a Regions teen bank account + learned about the scholarship via email.
- Inspired by: Misty Copeland, the first African-American woman to be promoted to principal ballerina in the American Ballet Theatre’s 75-year history, who served as a role model and gave Nelms the motivation to keep dancing
- The difference the Riding Forward© Scholarship made: Contributed significantly to expenses like books and a laptop
“The theme was very on-brand since it was writing about somebody who was influential to you from Black history, and I grew up dancing. It was a great scholarship and time for me to talk about who inspired me to keep dancing.”
Samantha Nelms,
Share the story of who inspired you. Apply for the Regions Riding Forward© Scholarship today.
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