All Things College Scholarship Receipt 2025 - Jonai Keys

 All Things College Scholarship Recipient 2025 

All glory to God — I am the 2025 recipient of the All Things College Visionary Scholarship, founded by Spelman alumna Gia Taijae. The purpose of the scholarship is to “support young scholars who identify as visionaries and are actively making a positive impact in their communities.” When she and her committee came together to review applications from across the country, their goal was to choose someone who had demonstrated a strong passion for their community and clearly articulated their “why.” And that is exactly what I did.

My passion is guided by my experience of seeing someone I love — my Nana — go from being happy-go-lucky to suffering from illness in what felt like the blink of an eye. My passion is to help others so I can make a difference in the number of people who go through situations like that. I want everyone to have access to healthcare, regardless of finances or geography. Healthcare should not be a privilege; it should be a right.

Ms. Taijae was able to see me through my words and understand the story behind why I’ve chosen this path. And through that, she knows — not thinks, not hopes — but knows that I will become a doctor and help communities around the world. Because my story is only the spark to the fire — but the drive I carry is what will make it burn forever.

- Jonai Keys, Class of 2029