Winners

2011 Dallas Scholarship Recipients

	Julan Basnet - Pizza Hut named scholar Julan was born in the third-world country of Bhutan. He grew up in a refugee camp, with an alcoholic and abusive father, where food was scarce and his mother’s time was spent taking care of their entire extended family. Although Julan's walk to school was over an hour each way, he never wanted to give up pursuing his education. After he and his mother moved to the U.S., Julan assumed responsibility for their family's financial obligations while also working hard to maintain a 3.78 GPA at Emmett J. Conrad High School. He has taken an active leadership role in school activities including National Honor Society, the Rotary Club of Dallas’ Camp Enterprise, the ESL Club, the Bhutanese Christian Association, and the Chess Team. Julan plans to attend UT Arlington, where he will major in accounting or operations management with a goal of becoming an entrepreneur and, as he puts it, “an agent of change.”
	Alexandre (Alex) Pendergrass - Fossil named scholar Alex and her mother live in poverty. Despite personal and family set-backs, Alex has remained active in school and has worked hard to maintain a 3.5 GPA at the Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center. Proud of her 18th place ranking in a class of 131 seniors, Alex is determined to have a bright future. She serves as senior class president, has remained actively engaged in her community and has accumulated over 800 hours of volunteer service. Alex has big plans to finish college in three years with a focus on Marketing, Political Science, and English. After college, she wants to travel the world as a community activist, giving a voice to underserved populations. Alex is deeply committed to a life of service for the advancement of vulnerable people.
	Ja’Mesha Morgan - Pat and Emmitt Smith Charities named scholar Ja'Mesha comes from a low-income, single-parent home where she watched her mother struggle to provide for her and her siblings. As a high school dropout, Ja’Mesha’s mother has only ever made minimum wage – barely enough to cover the family’s needs. After the downturn in the economy, Ja'Mesha's mother lost her job, forcing Ja’Mesha and her brother to take on extra neighborhood jobs to help their mother with bills and other expenses. Ja'Mesha has felt that she missed out on opportunities as a child, being forced into adulthood at a young age. She has learned through personal hardship that furthering her education is the only way to create a better life for her own family. Ja’Mesha has excelled academically, with a 3.71 GPA that ranks her first in her class at South Oak Cliff High School. She also participates in National Honor Society, Academic Decathalon, Mock Trial, and a number of service organizations. Ja’Mesha will be the first in her family to attend college, and plans to pursue a doctorate in Psychology, work as a social worker focusing on adoption and foster children. In the future, she would like to establish a non-profit mentoring program in her neighborhood.
	Kathleen (Katee) Voirin - Jersey Mike’s Subs named scholar Katee was born deaf in one ear and significantly impaired in the other, and at a young age underwent two surgical procedures to try to improve her hearing. The surgeries failed and she remains deaf in one ear and has very limited hearing in the other. Growing up she has frequently been teased and bullied because of her disability, but has not let any personal challenges interfere with her determination to succeed. She has worked hard to excel in her academics and is ranked 22nd of 475 at W.T. White High School with a 3.64 GPA. Katee is active in Key Club and other service and mentoring programs for younger students. Katee plans to study pharmacy or nursing in college with the goal of spending her life as a health care worker in developing countries.
	Alexandria Emerson - Beat the Odds / GMAC scholar Alexandria Emerson is the eldest of four and has had the primary responsibility of taking care of her siblings since she was very young. Her mother has always worked long hours. At age thirteen, Alexandria's life changed when her stepfather committed a violent crime. Due to a number of threats against them, Alexandria’s family relocated to Texas. When her stepfather was sent to prison, Alexandria felt responsible to fill in the gap and provide financial support for her family. Recently, their apartment burned and all of their belongings were destroyed. With no money to relocate they were forced to remain in the burned apartment while Alexandria was enrolled in a rigorous summer school course load through the Upward Bound program. Despite the many disruptions in her life, Alexandria has remained focused on academics, ranking 5th in a class of 268 at David W. Carter High School, with a GPA of 3.4. She is actively involved with Education is Freedom, is a member of the yearbook staff, and participates in tutoring and volunteer programs. Alexandria plans to pursue a Master’s in Accounting after completing college.
	Damber Khadka - Beat the Odds / GMAC scholar Damber grew up in Bhutan, south Asia. He and his family were very poor and struggled for survival without any access to basic medical facilities. One day his grandfather was killed and his father was arrested. Shortly after his father’s release from prison, the family was forced into a refugee camp with a one-room school house. Damber applied himself in school and won awards every year for his grades. His family was eventually granted amnesty to the U.S. and after only six months in this country, he was not only taking Advanced Placement classes, he had also become the primary financial supporter for his family. He works a full-time job in his temple’s nonprofit charity organization, while adhering strictly to his academic commitment. He is ranked 23rd of 284 students at Emmett J. Conrad High School with a 3.69 GPA. Damber’s dream is to one day become a doctor so that he can help to prevent many of the treatable illnesses that took the lives of people he knew and cared about in his home country.
	Priscilla Holmes - Beat the Odds / GMAC scholar Priscilla struggles with Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism that makes it difficult for her to interact socially. She grew up in a home filled with poverty and violence. Her father was abusive and Priscilla describes a beating she once received for not taking her medication. She recalls with sadness the arguments and fights between her parents that always kept her up at night. In the fourth grade, Priscilla was placed in special education classes due to her special challenges with autism. Despite her unsettled home life, her close proximity to violent gang activity, teasing she’s experienced from peers and teachers, Priscilla has remained true to herself and her desire to improve her situation. She is an active participant in JROTC and volunteer efforts in and out of school. She participated in the Rotary Club of Dallas’ Camp Enterprise where her group placed 2nd in competition making her entire school very proud. She works extra hard to maintain her 3.35 GPA at Emmett T. Conrad High School. Priscilla’s struggles at home have only strengthened her resolve to fight back against being labeled a “victim” and to make her life better through education and a successful career.