Congratulations Winners!
The SUAF-AC Excel Scholarship Recipients
Meet the incredible recipients of the second annual SUAF-AC Excel Scholarship. This scholarship recognizes the importance of giving financial support for academic excellence to traditionally and historically disadvantaged students, with ties to the State of Arizona, who are matriculating at a Southern University System institution. It is a promising step along the successful pathway to completing a college education. Our three scholarship recipients, announced in December 2022, are Leilonni Robinson (1st Place), Kenyae Stocker (2nd Place), and Ashton Jordan (3rd Place).
First Place Winner
$2000
Leilonni Robinson was born and reared in Phoenix, Arizona. She received her high school diploma from South Mountain High School in 2016 and her bachelor's degree from Alcorn State University in 2020. She will receive her master's degree in Social Science with a History and Sociology specialization from Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical (A&M) College in May 2023.
Leilonni has been working on her thesis, A Qualitative Analysis of African American Women's Hair from Africa to the United States, while she has been a student at Southern University. She intends to teach at the collegiate level after she receives her degree and will continue to pursue her love of research and education in a Ph.D. program.
Second Place Winner
$1500
Kenyae Stocker is a 20-year-old junior working to obtain a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering at Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical (A&M) College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She is also a member of the Dolores Margaret Richard Spikes Honors College.
Born and raised in Tucson, Arizona, Kenyae moved to Louisiana to attend college, and it was her first time living anywhere outside of her hometown.
Even though moving to Baton Rouge was a big leap for Kenyae, she is glad to call Southern University her home.
Third Place Winner
$1000
Ashton Jordan is a 2021 graduate of Chandler High School in Chandler, Arizona. She is the youngest of three children and, soon, she will be the fifth member of her family to attend and graduate from a Historically Black College and University (HBCU).
Currently, Ashton is a sophomore majoring in Mass Communications/Public Relations with aspirations to work in the fashion industry. She is a member of the Dolores Margaret Richard Spikes Honors College, as well as Sisters in Christ, an on-campus, female-only religious organization.
Ashton is grateful to be able to continue her collegiate journey, and she hopes to use the tools learned during her college experience to create significant change in her community - near and far.