By Staff Reports

The Maggie J. Bryant (MJB) Scholarship Fund recently announced the local winners of the 2024 MJB Scholarship Awards in Dozier. The opportunity, open to students in Crenshaw, Covington and Pike counties, is aimed at helping local students achieve their higher education goals.

The fund has awarded scholarships for five years. Javen Poindexter of Red Level and Ja’Kayla Carr from Andalusia received the awards. And while no Crenshaw County students submitted applications this year, the program awarded a scholarship to a Brantley High School student during its first cycle.

“We are hoping to use these awards to bring awareness to students in Crenshaw County,” said Marenda Caldwell, Chairperson MJB Scholarship Fund.

Poindexter resides in Red Level and is a 2024 graduate of Red Level High School where he excelled  as a student and an athlete. He has a passion for helping others and giving back to his community as  demonstrated by his ability to excel in academics and athletics while serving his community through his church and local community center. J

He was awarded $1,500 to assist with college expenses. He will  be attending college on an athletic scholarship with plans to pursue a degree in civil engineering. 

Carr resides in Andalusia and is a 2024 graduate of Pike County High School where she excelled as a  dual-enrollment college student. She has a passion for helping others and giving back to her  community as demonstrated by her ability to balance academics and cheerleading, all while supporting her and taking college courses. 

She was awarded $1,500 to assist with college  expenses. She is enrolled at Lurleen B. Wallace College with plans to pursue a degree in nursing.  

The MJB Scholarship Fund was established in honor of Maggie J. Bryant, who died in 2019, to help  deserving students further their education, and embrace the value of lifelong learning and community  leadership. Award recipients serve as role models by demonstrating leadership in community service,  academic excellence and lifelong learning. 

“This is our third year of  recognizing future community leaders who value lifelong learning, servant leadership, and improving  their community,” Caldwell said, who is Bryant’s daughter. “We know our mother would be proud of the quality of students we have selected in her honor.”  

Scholarship recipients can receive up to $1,500 to assist with  college expenses. Candidates are nominated or self-nominated each year by June 30, with recipients selected by July 31.

For more information about the Maggie J. Bryant Scholarship Fund, please visit their Facebook page https://m.facebook.com/MJBScholarshipFund/. 

About Maggie J. Bryant Scholarship Fund 

The MJB Scholarship Fund was established in 2020 to honor the life and legacy of Maggie J. Bryant, whose commitment to her family, community, and continuous learning was not hindered by her  physical hearing limitations. Mrs. Bryant was a nurses’ aide by education, but a self-taught religious  scholar. She was a pillar of her community and throughout her life demonstrated the importance of  servant leadership. She was a pastor’s wife and served for decades at the highest levels of several  community and religious organizations. She was also a highly sought out speaker at church and  community events. She was an avid reader and always stayed in tune with current news and trends,  including learning to text and use Facebook on a smartphone in her seventies. 

The MJB scholarship will be awarded annually to provide funding to deserving high school seniors or  college freshmen. Recipients must be in good academic standing, value continuous learning, and  demonstrate a commitment to community service.