2025-2026 Scholarship Award Recipients

We are overjoyed to announce the recipients of the 2025–26 JLD Scholarship Fund! This year, we proudly awarded a total of $4,500 in scholarships to three exceptional young scholars, each receiving $1,500 toward their academic journeys.

Please join us in celebrating the achievements of this year’s recipients:

Kordaye Hemphill – Attending UNC Wilmington
Montese McDuffie – Attending North Carolina A&T State University
Steven Stewart – Attending North Carolina A&T State University

These students have demonstrated outstanding dedication, resilience, and commitment to their education and communities. Their passion for learning and service mirrors the very spirit and legacy of Johnny Leroy “Lee-Lee” Dawkins, Jr, in whose honor our scholarship fund was founded.

We are not only celebrating academic excellence, but also the promise of a brighter future. We believe in these students, and we are proud to play a role in helping them achieve their goals. Whether they go on to become innovators, educators, entrepreneurs, or community leaders, we know they will carry forward the mission and values we hold dear.

To Kordaye, Montese, and Steven—congratulations!
We are incredibly proud of you and can’t wait to see all that you accomplish.

Thank you to our supporters, donors, and community partners for helping us make moments like this possible. Together, we’re investing in the leaders of tomorrow.

#JLDScholarship #ScholarshipAward #FutureLeaders #Congratulations #YouGotThis