N.C. A&T Announces 2022 Dowdy Scholars Cohort

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (Sept. 22, 2022) – North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University has announced its newest cohort of Lewis and Elizabeth Dowdy Scholars – 20 academically talented first-year students who have joined the Aggie family as members of the class of 2026.

This year’s Dowdy Scholars boast an average cumulative GPA of 4.34, with test scores being optional for this selection cycle, and ranked on average in the top 10% of their graduating high school class. With 11 from North Carolina, four from Maryland, two apiece from Georgia and South Carolina, and one from Virginia, these students represent six of the university’s academic colleges: College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Willie A. Deese College of Business and Economics, College of Engineering, John R. and Kathy R. Hairston College of Health and Human Sciences, and College of Science and Technology.

“Dowdy Scholars are transformative leaders who understand that Aggies are always doing, but never done,” said Margaret I. Kanipes, Ph.D., N.C. A&T Honors Program director. “We are proud to offer the learning opportunities and resources for these talented, high-achieving students to realize their personal and professional potential.”

“Our newest cohort of Dowdy Scholars continues a tradition of educational excellence at A&T,” said Interim Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Tonya Smith-Jackson, Ph.D. “Their practical and experiential studies, along with their commitment to community engagement, will prepare these Aggies to address the issues faced by our global society in positive, innovative ways.”

The scholarship is named in honor of the late Dr. Lewis C. Dowdy, A&T’s sixth president and first chancellor, and his wife, Elizabeth. He served the university for more than 21 years. The administration building was named for him in 1981, the year after he stepped down as chancellor.

Scholars receive a four-year renewable award that covers tuition and related fees, housing and meals for up to four years. This year’s scholars are listed below in alphabetical order:

• Markel Alston, son of Melissa Alston is from Arlington, Virginia. A graduate of Wakefield High School, he plans to pursue a degree in civil engineering. His long-term goal is to bring modern technologies and amenities to communities similar to those of his upbringing so children are able to have stimulating childhoods and experiences.
• Arianna Arnold, daughter of Richard and Ivye Arnold is from Apex, North Carolina. She is a graduate of Northwood High School and plans to major in psychology. After completing her degree, her main objective is to become an organizational consultant known for significantly improving structural and individual workplace conditions.
• Seirra Burgess, daughter of Gary and Della Burgess is from Grimesland, North Carolina. She is a graduate of D.H. Conley High School and plans to major in animal science. After completing her undergraduate degree, she plans to obtain her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and attend North Carolina State University.
• Sloane Cauthen, daughter of Bill Cauthen and Shauna Stroud, is from Charlotte, North Carolina. She is a graduate of Phillip O Berry Academy of Technology and plans to major in liberal studies with a concentration in African studies. She hopes to later become an educator in the studies of African history. She is dedicated to honoring this field to educate students of all ages and backgrounds about the importance of African history in our current civilization and to become a mentor to other Black students.
• Makayla Eugene, daughter of Curtis and Stephanie Eugene, is from Brandywine, Maryland. She is a graduate of Frederick Douglass High School and plans to major in agricultural and environmental systems (agribusiness and food industry management). Her ultimate career goal is to create a minority-owned agricultural tourism dance conservatory and arts education performance center for the underserved.
• Korbin Ferguson, son of Kevin and LeShon Ferguson, is from Simpsonville, South Carolina. He graduated from Mauldin High School and plans to major in mechanical engineering. After completing his degree, he plans to work as an aerospace engineer at an aeronautics corporation – namely NASA, Lockheed Martin, or Boeing.
• Glenn Ford III, son of Glenn and Tierra Ford, is from Charlotte. He is a graduate of Marvin Ridge High School and plans to major in management (entrepreneurship). After completing his degree, he would love to fully develop his own brand and perhaps expand his custom shoe hobby into a legitimate source of income.
• Echo Horne, daughter of Reginald and Cheryl Horne, is from Charlotte. A graduate of North Mecklenburg Senior High School, she and plans to major in kinesiology. Her ultimate career goal is to attend medical school and become an orthopedic surgeon.
• Caleb McCoy, son of Gregory and Diqueta McCoy, is from McDonough, Georgia. He is a graduate of Eagles Landing High School and plans to major in biological engineering. His career objective is to work in agriculture to solve the problem of food scarcity in Black communities and beyond. He believes working to make healthy foods available to families who suffer from food insecurity will strengthen those households and have a major impact on our society as a whole.
• Kamdyn Morton, daughter of Tracy and Kenneth Morton, Ph.D., is from Charlotte. She is a graduate of North Mecklenburg High School majoring in biology. Upon completing her undergraduate degree, her goal is to enroll into dental school to become an orthodontist. Additionally, she hopes to integrate international community service into her practice by traveling to countries with limited access to adequate dental care.
• Audra Nesbit, daughter of Gregory and Twanda Nesbit, is from Georgetown, South Carolina. A graduate of Georgetown High School, she plans to major in biology. Upon earning her degree, she hopes to matriculate into dental school. Long term, she plans to open her own practice in an underserved area, in order to improve the health of those who need it most, but have little to no access to proper health care.
• Miles Norwood, son of Marshall and Melvina Norwood, is from Lithonia, Georgia. He is a graduate of Eagle’s Landing High School and plans to major in psychology. Through studying psychology at A&T, he will gain a strong, diverse foundation toward his goal of clinical psychology working with youth and athletes. He wants to understand and study the enormous stressors facing youth and professional athletes both on and off the field.
• Genesis Parham, daughter of Walter and Lourdes Parham, is from Knightdale, North Carolina. She is a graduate of North Wake College and Career Academy and plans to major in management (business administration). Her ultimate career goal is to work alongside a collegiate or professional sports team as head of its marketing department.
• Haley Pender, daughter of Robert and Cheryl Pender, is from Wake Forest, North Carolina. A graduate of Heritage High School, she plans to major in journalism and mass communication with a concentration in multimedia. She hopes to become an entertainment reporter for national networks such as ABC, NBC, and CBS.
• Gabrielle Pierce, daughter of Aaron and Regina Robertson, is from Upper Marlboro, Maryland. She is a graduate of Chesapeake Math and IT Academy North High School and plans to major in computer science. After obtaining her degree, she plans to become a software engineer, decrease the gender gap in the field of engineering and bring technology to underserved communities in efforts to improve their health care, education system, and lives.
• Xavier Rogers, son of Joachim and Briana Rogers, is from Charlotte. A graduate of Phillip O Berry Academy, he plans to major in business information technology. He hopes to earn a position at a big tech company, strengthening and enhancing business processes, integration business, and technology. Once he has reached the pinnacle of his field, he would like to go back to school and earn his Ph.D. in business management, gather all of the knowledge he’s gained from his career, and become a professor at A&T.
• Kaylie Shoffner, daughter of Jay and Adlois Shoffner, is from Greensboro, North Carolina. She is a graduate of the STEM Early College at North Carolina A&T and plans to major in biology (pre-med). She aspires to study medicine and become a gynecologist with a private practice dedicated to educating and informing the community about women’s health equity and disparities.
• Martin Spinner, son of Martin Spinner and Tanya Fulton, is from Waldorf, Maryland. He is a graduate of North Point High School and plans to major in architectural engineering. After completing his degree, he plans to enter the construction field for a few years to get hands-on experience and later apply to law school to practice real estate law.
• Andy Underwood Jr., son of Andy Underwood Sr. and Tokeisa Coleman, is from Clinton, North Carolina. A graduate of Clinton High School, he plans to major in management (business administration). After obtaining his degree, he hopes to pursue an MBA and open a small business center in underdeveloped rural areas to provide resources and opportunities for the people there.
• Yazmin Wilson, daughter of Thomas and Dori Wilson, is from Upper Marlboro. A graduate of Charles Herbert Flowers High School, she plans to major in electrical engineering. Her ultimate career goal is to become an electrical engineer with a focus in robotics. In her pursuit of success, she wants to inspire young Black girls to explore careers in the STEM field.

Markel Alston

Arianna Arnold

Seirra Burgess

Sloane Cauthen

Makayla Eugene

Korbin Ferguson

Glenn Ford III

Echo Horne

Caleb McCoy

Kamdyn Morton

Audra Nesbit

Miles Norwood

Genesis Parham

Haley Pender

Gabrielle Pierce

Xavier Rogers

Kaylie Shoffner

Martin Spinner

Andy Underwood Jr.

Yazmin Wilson