Ten Morehouse College students were selected as the first Aaron's Scholars and will share in a $1 million scholarship award for students who are the first in their family to seek a higher education.
The scholarship is being funded by Aaron’s Inc. (NYSE: AAN), a leading omnichannel provider of lease-purchase solutions, and its divisions Aaron's and Progressive Leasing. A total of 20 students will receive the scholarship. The next 10 students will be announced at the start of the 2019-20 academic year.
Each student in the program will receive a 3-year, $50,000 scholarship. The 20 recipients will also be offered internships.
LaQuan Body
LaQuan Body is a native of Clayton County, Ga., and a sophomore at Morehouse, where he is pursuing a dual degree in mechanical engineering. LaQuan plans to design products that will help bring about the environmental changes that he believes our planet desperately needs. In his free time, LaQuan volunteers at Riverdale High School, giving marching band students there the guidance that he, himself, once received. His passions include “music, sports, family, and helping others.”
Montavis Hall
Montavis Hall, 18, is from a single-parent home in Albany, Ga. Because his mother would sometimes get home late from work, Montavis spent time at the Boys & Girls Club in Albany, Ga.—eventually volunteering and interning there. “I’m an extrovert who loves meeting new people and experiencing new things,” he says. “One of my strengths is my communications skills.”
Britian Feast
A sophomore business marketing major, Britian Feast is from Dallas, Texas. He graduated from Desoto High School as a collegiate magnet scholar and a student athlete. He has three main life goals: to become a Morehouse Man, become “the best U. S. Army JAG (Judge Advocate General) officer possible,” and host his own TED Talk. “I would discuss my own personal failures and triumphs at what would then be my alma mater—Morehouse College.”
Larry Aldridge III
Larry Aldridge III is the oldest son in his family and the first to attend college. The 19-year- old graduated from Georgia’s Americus-Sumter High School in 2017. “According to my friends, I am known for my bubbly personality, as well as my opinionated ways,” he says. “I do my best to be an advocate for the helpless and the needy, and I have an overwhelming desire to overcome any obstacles that I may face.”
Quandarius White
A sophomore from Lagrange. Ga., Quandarius White has been part of what he calls “the Chick-fil-A team” since June 2016. Science was one of his favorite subjects in high school, and so Quandarius became a biology major at Morehouse. He plans to use his degree to go to medical school and become a plastic surgeon with his own practice.
Deaven L. Rector
Deaven L. Rector is a sophomore political science major from Los Angeles, Ca. “I grew up in the heart of black gangs, with a single mother,” he says. “Because of this, I was surrounded by murders, robberies, and other crimes ever since I was able to take a step outside my house. Coming to Morehouse College was the greatest decision I will ever make.” Deaven attributes the black male excellence at Morehouse with sharpening his critical thinking skills and spirituality. “Mother Morehouse gave me something I never had before—a conscious and growing mind. I am Morehouse and Morehouse is me.”
Jadon Jones
A first-generation college student, Jadon Jones is a sophomore at Morehouse College. He is majoring in business administration, with a concentration in finance. “I’m focused on developing consulting and investment banking skills,” he says. “Eventually, I plan to apply these skills toward creating strong investment returns for companies and their investors through a long-term career in private equity.” Jadon’s college experience has been enhanced by his work with Amazing Grace Daycare and Achieve M.O.O.R.E., an organization based on achievement and community ascension. “At Amazing Grace Daycare, I spent 28 hours assisting elementary and middle school students with homework, and teaching a variety of subjects including mathematics, English, and history,” he says. “Through these organizations, I’ve also conducted food drives and community car washes to foster the development of young children with similar dreams of attending college.”
Jacory Bernard
Jacory Bernard is a 19-year-old sophomore at Morehouse College. The Lafayette, La., native is majoring in Cinema, Television, and Emerging Media Studies and plans to pursue a career in broadcast journalism. Jacory has described attending the Disney Dreamers Academy as a pivotal moment in his life. “This opportunity helped me to understand the importance of not only dreaming but believing in your dreams,” he says. The first-generation college student graduated with a 3.0 GPA from the largest high school in Louisiana, while serving as class president and master of ceremonies at graduation. He is now a Morehouse student ambassador.
Jaylen Lowe
Jaylen Lowe was born on July 18, 1999, a special day in his family— a day that was also the birthday of his grandmother and mother. The Eden, N.C., native took AIG (Academically or Intellectually Gifted) classes in elementary school, “and it was there that I took responsibility for my education.” In May 2017, Jaylen graduated with both a high school diploma and college associate degree—a year early. “Now that I have begun my journey at Morehouse College,” he says, “I believe that this is the best place for me to pursue my bachelor’s degree in biology, in hopes of becoming a pharmacist.”
Raeshaun Rashidi
A first-generation finance major, Raeshaun Rashidi hails from New York, N.Y. Raeshaun plans to someday earn a master’s of business degree and work on Wall Street as an investment banker. “After a few years of working on Wall Street, I want to move to Silicon Valley where I will begin my career as a venture capitalist,” he says. Raeshaun also plans to one day create his own scholarship “specifically for students like me, low-income students attending historically black colleges and universities.”
