Prairie View Alumni gives $10,000 scholarship to Biology Student Allexis Washington
- By Staff Writer
- Published 12/16/2009
- Youth
- Unrated
PRAIRIE VIEW- Dr. Twana Edwards presented Allexis Washington, sophomore biology major, with a $10,000 scholarship. The scholarship made Washington the first recipient of the Twana Edwards Scholarship Endowment Fund.
It was created in 2008, with a $100,000 gift to the University’s capital campaign, an amount that was matched dollar for dollar by the state of Texas. “My motivation for creating this fund came around the time of my 40th birthday. I realized that this was a defining moment in my life, so I wanted to do something that gave back to the students. In lieu of gifts, I asked that donations be made to my scholarship. I asked everyone who wanted to buy me a personal gift for my birthday to donate to my scholarship fund,” said Edwards. To eliminate the need for the winning student to secure additional scholarships to satisfy their annual tuition bill, Edwards developed scholarship parameters that awarded one biology major with a 3.0 GPA a large sum of money. “If you are awarded my scholarship, you need only focus on studying and maintaining a 3.0 average, such that you can apply for it next year,” said Edwards. A 1990 graduate of PVAMU, Edwards received a degree in biology before continuing her studies at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. Since then, Edwards created a school-based dental program, Smile Support. Her company focuses on the children of Chicago and provides on-site dental services to students with the use of mobile dental equipment. Since her departure from PVAMU, Edwards has achieved a number of recognizable credentials. She is a member of the National Dental Association, American Dental Association, Illinois State Dental Society, Chicago Dental Society and the American Association of Women Dentists.
Dr. Twana Edwards presented Allexis Washington, sophomore biology major, with a $10,000 scholarship. They are featured with Dr. Deidre Vaden and Dr. Seab Smith of the Prairie View A&M University department of biology.
Photo: Brad Traywick Story: Ryan Rudd, The Panthe
It was created in 2008, with a $100,000 gift to the University’s capital campaign, an amount that was matched dollar for dollar by the state of Texas. “My motivation for creating this fund came around the time of my 40th birthday. I realized that this was a defining moment in my life, so I wanted to do something that gave back to the students. In lieu of gifts, I asked that donations be made to my scholarship. I asked everyone who wanted to buy me a personal gift for my birthday to donate to my scholarship fund,” said Edwards. To eliminate the need for the winning student to secure additional scholarships to satisfy their annual tuition bill, Edwards developed scholarship parameters that awarded one biology major with a 3.0 GPA a large sum of money. “If you are awarded my scholarship, you need only focus on studying and maintaining a 3.0 average, such that you can apply for it next year,” said Edwards. A 1990 graduate of PVAMU, Edwards received a degree in biology before continuing her studies at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. Since then, Edwards created a school-based dental program, Smile Support. Her company focuses on the children of Chicago and provides on-site dental services to students with the use of mobile dental equipment. Since her departure from PVAMU, Edwards has achieved a number of recognizable credentials. She is a member of the National Dental Association, American Dental Association, Illinois State Dental Society, Chicago Dental Society and the American Association of Women Dentists.
Dr. Twana Edwards presented Allexis Washington, sophomore biology major, with a $10,000 scholarship. They are featured with Dr. Deidre Vaden and Dr. Seab Smith of the Prairie View A&M University department of biology.
Photo: Brad Traywick Story: Ryan Rudd, The Panthe