Introducing the 2019 VGA! Scholarship Winners

Here at Atlanta Habitat, we take pride in supporting our homeowners and their families beyond the build of their homes.

That’s why we award $5,000 twice a year through our Vison. Goals. Action! (VGA) scholarship and grant program to qualifying homeowners and household members with dreams of pursuing higher education and entrepreneurial opportunities. In July 2019, one homeowner and two family members of a homeowner were celebrated as this year’s recipients at a VGA scholarship ceremony. Their selection was based on their grade point average, personal essay, community involvement, and their household’s completion of our education and sweat-equity requirements.

Dailyn, a recent honors high school graduate, won a $2,500 first-place scholarship. The funds will help with costs at the University of Georgia where she plans to major in biology.

“My future goals include going to medical school to become an orthopedic surgeon with a specialization in sports medicine,” Dailyn said.

With 12 years of sobriety under his belt, homeowner Rayburn plans to use his $1,750 scholarship to become a certified substance abuse counselor. He currently works as a Behavior Tech at the Georgia Addiction Treatment Center.

“I love giving back to the community and helping those that suffer from any kind of addiction,” Rayburn shared. “It’s my passion to help and to see other lives transform as mine did.”

Sankofa, a 15-year-old homeschooled student, won a $750 scholarship – which she’ll use to fund Korean language classes. As a leader in her community, her ultimate goal is to teach and translate English in East Asia, plus increase representation in the field of linguistics.

“From my own experience, I think this can inspire anyone to do what they’re passionate about at any age,” Sankofa said. “I want to show them that they can do it too!”

Also earning scholarships are two homeowner family members, Jelinda and Skyylar; they are recipients of Atlanta Habitat’s 2019 first American Red Cross Babysitter Certification Scholarship.