Congratulations to 5th grader Malena Meyer for recently being selected as a 2021 Carson Scholar and receiving a $1,000 scholarship award towards her college education from the Carson Scholars Fund. Malena was nominated for the scholarship in December 2020 by Mrs. Gretchen Murphy, her 5th grade teacher.
Malena is among more than 10,000 gifted students from across the United States that have been named Carson Scholars and she and her family are invited to attend an awards ceremony that is planned for the fall of 2021. In addition to the scholarship, Malena will receive an Olympic-sized medal and a certificate and ACS will receive a trophy to display in the school. The Carson Scholars Fund is based in Maryland and was founded in 1994 by world-renowned Johns Hopkins Pediatric Neurosurgeon Benjamin S. Carson, M.D. and his wife, Candy.
According to a letter from Felicia Wise, Scholarship Director of the Fund, Malena was chosen for the award for demonstrating “the highest standards of academic achievement, integrity, civic, and social responsibility.” Students selected were required to have a minimum 3.75 GPA and display humanitarian qualities by being actively involved in community service in school, virtually, at home, or in their neighborhood.
Malena’s scholarship application described a number of creative community service projects that she carried out in 2020 after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. She had a lemonade stand, cookie stand, and cupcake stand. She made homemade pizzas and delivered them to neighbors who placed orders and raised some $250 for breast cancer awareness. Malena also found another way to serve others by opening up a restaurant in her home, with her brother and a cousin assisting as chefs, servers, and entertainers. She invited invited relatives, neighbors, and friends over, one family at a time, to enjoy a full course meal.
“It was exactly what we needed at that time of isolation,” said Mrs. Kristina Meyer, Malena’s mom. “Malena is constantly thinking of others and is the most thoughtful person.”
Mrs. Murphy said she was thrilled to see Malena selected for the honor of being Carson Scholar. “Malena is a hard worker in every way and even though it’s been her first year at Atlantic Christian, she has managed to gain the respect of her peers,” Mrs. Murphy said. “Several times I have noted Malena choosing to spend time with the underdog: those who are hurting, students who are left out, struggling, or lonely. Malena sees injustices and chooses to act on others’ behalf.”
According to the Fund guidelines, once a student is named a Carson Scholar he or she is eligible to apply for Scholar Recognition in future years and can receive additional scholarship awards.
