The Carson Scholars Fund recently announced that two ACS students — 10th grader Evangelina Kim and 6th grader Malena Meyer — have each been chosen to receive $1,000 scholarships for college. The Fund, headquartered in Maryland, was founded by world-renowned Johns Hopkins Pediatric Neurosurgeon Benjamin S. Carson, M.D. and his wife, Candy.

In a letter to ACS, Rachel Brown, the Scholarship Director of the Carson Scholars Fund, said the students were selected “because their academic achievements and community service make them stand out as a future leader.” Students selected are required to have a minimum 3.75 GPA and display humanitarian qualities by being actively involved in community service in school, at home, or in their neighborhood.

For Evangelina, this was her first year to receive a Carson Scholars Fund scholarship. Her nomination was submitted by ACS to the Fund in December and was supported by recommendation letters from teachers and staff members. For Malena, this was her second year to receive the scholarship, based on her continuing record of academic excellence and community service activities. Malena was the first ACS recipient of the scholarship in early 2021.  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.

Evangelina and Malena are among more than 10,000 gifted students from across the United States that have been named Carson Scholars since the Fund’s creation in 1994. Evangelina, Malena, and their families have been invited to attend an awards ceremony this May at Goucher College in Towson, Maryland. ACS will soon receive a nameplate with Evangelina’s name to place on a Carson Scholars Fund trophy that is on display in the school office, where Malena’s name is already displayed.

Evangelina’s scholarship application described a variety of community service activities, including coaching a basketball program at a kids camp last summer at her church, New Life Assembly of God Church in Egg Harbor Township. A talented singer and pianist, Evangelina has also been part of a youth group worship team for several years at Wellspring Church in Mays Landing and at New Life Assembly. At ACS, Evangelina sings and plays piano in the High School Worship Team that leads worship weekly in Upper School Chapel. She also volunteers each week to share devotions with her classmates during homeroom. She is a Student Council officer and a Varsity member of the girls’ basketball, soccer, and softball teams.

High school math teacher Gina Wilson described Evangelina in her recommendation letter as “a hard worker, self-motivated, and a leader among her peers.”  She also noted that Evangelina is committed to missions work as a member of the ACS Missions Club and is involved in helping local charities and traveling to help those in need.

ACS Upper School Principal Meg McHale and Elementary Principal Gail Alford headed up the effort to select and nominate Evangelina and two other ACS students for the Carson Scholars Fund scholarship and said they plan to continue nominating ACS students for this annual scholarship program. The Carson Scholars Fund will only select one new student from a school each year.