RCB Foundation Awards Scholarships to Birmingham Seniors
The Rotary Club of Birmingham (RCB) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2021 Rotary Club of Birmingham Foundation Scholarships. The four outstanding seniors selected attend Birmingham City Schools: Aimee Howard, Ramsay High School; Destiny Nelson-Miles, Woodlawn High School; Rainiela Ortiz Veras, George Washington Carver High School; and Giana Trainer, Huffman High School.
Sixty Birmingham City Schools seniors applied to the competitive annual scholarship program. Students were selected based on their academic and extracurricular achievements, commitment to serving the community, personal essay and educator recommendations. Each student will receive $2,000 per year over four years that can be used for any expenses while they are enrolled in a college or university.
2021 RCB Foundation Scholarship recipient Aimee Howard is first in her senior class at Ramsay High School and plans to study political science at Harvard University. She aims to become a civil rights lawyer with an emphasis on prison reform and hopes to one day open a practice providing rehabilitative services such as financial planning, legal advice and recreation. Aimee has won several awards in writing and debate and placed first in the Equal Justice Initiative Essay Competition and Southern Christian Leadership Conference Oratorical Contest. She enjoys writing, hiking, dance and yoga. “I hope to make profound change within my community by using my college education as a catalyst.”
2021 RCB Foundation Scholarship recipient Destiny Nelson-Miles is first in her senior class at Woodlawn High School and plans to study business finance in college. She is a member of the WHS Colonel Ambassadors, WHS Advocacy Council, and National Honor Society; a senior apprentice at Jones Valley Teaching Farm and UAB Early College Program participant. Destiny was named a Woodson Legacy Scholar, WBRC Fox 6 Rising Star and won first place in Chemistry at the Birmingham City Schools District STEM Fair. She enjoys hiking, biking, cheer and cooking. “I am extremely honored to be the recipient of this scholarship and I am very thankful for the Rotary Club of Birmingham investing in my future.”
2021 RCB Foundation Scholarship recipient Rainiela Ortiz Veras is an outstanding senior at George Washington Carver High School who plans to attend Berea College and pursue her dream of becoming a veterinarian. Rain is a bilingual student, born in Puerto Rico and raised in the Dominican Republic before moving to the U.S. She is a member of the National Honor Society and CHS Spanish Honor Society; Altec Innovation Challenge Grant winner, College Choice Foundation Bateman Scholar, and Princeton Price Race Relations Certificate of Merit recipient. She enjoys soccer, reading and painting. “This scholarship is a blessing, giving me the opportunity to help pay for my college expenses. It will help so much.”
2021 RCB Foundation Scholarship recipient Giana Trainer is first in her senior class at Huffman High School. She plans to study biology at the University of South Alabama and hopes to attend medical school. Giana is a member of the HHS Math Team, SGA, P.A.L.S., National Honor Society and Delta Kappa Delta Sorority. She enjoys reading, math and spending time with family and friends. “I want to thank the Rotary Club of Birmingham for giving me this opportunity and aiding in a better future for myself.”