Page 24 - Alcorn Magazine - Spring, 2019

Ambition for Achievement Earns
Joy Applewhite Historic Opportunities
The ambition of one Alcorn State University senior is mo- tivating her to reach incredible heights in her nal year of college.
Joy Applewhite, a senior psychology major, became the rst Al- corn student to receive the Educational Testing Services (ETS) Presidential Scholarship for Historically Black College and Uni- versity (HBCU) Students in September.
In recognition of ETS’s long-standing collaboration with HB- CUs, the ETS Presidential Scholarship supports rising juniors and seniors who have established a record of outstanding aca- demic performance in college, both overall and in their major eld, and who exhibit an interest in leadership in their chosen eld. e student must be recommended by the president of their college or university for their outstanding academic college performance.
A full tuition scholarship for one academic year is granted to four students attending private HBCUs and four students attending public HBCUs.
Being one of the eight HBCU students to earn the scholarship took Applewhite by surprise. Part of her reasoning for applying for the scholarship was to inform other students of the oppor- tunity.
“I applied with hopes of bringing attention to our school for future applicants,” said Applewhite. “After the initial feeling of surprise, I felt proud and happy. I shared with those who helped me to achieve the scholarship. I am extremely proud to be one of the four public HBCU students to receive this highly competi- tive scholarship.”
Earning the scholarship is a continuation of an amazing and busy year for Applewhite. is summer, she participated in the Pre- Law Scholars Summer Enrichment Program at Howard Univer- sity’s School of Law. She recounts the internship as a wonderful experience and one she feels provided her with unparalleled legal skills.
“I really enjoyed my experience at Howard. It gave me the same bubbly feeling I had when I visited Alcorn back in high school. I met wonderful, like-minded people that I will forever be con-
nected to. My cohorts ampli ed the greatness of the Howard experience.”
After a stellar year lled with accomplishments, hard work, and dedication, her labor was rewarded again when she was accepted into multiple graduate schools across the country.
Applewhite chose American University’s Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C. Other schools that accepted Apple- white were Howard University, the University of Memphis, the University of Mississippi, Saint Louis University, Southern Uni- versity, and the University of Tulsa. She’s excited about all the new opportunities that the school will o er her.
“I am looking forward to new learning experiences,” said Apple- white. “I am eager to have the hands-on experience of preparing to practice law. I am excited to o er help to potential clients who are in need.”
In the initial stages of Applewhite’s law school pursuit, she over- looked American University. anks to a mentor, she was led to the school’s website, and from there, she knew that it was the right place for her.
“American University was not on my radar, but at the advice of a mentor, I decided to look at its website to see what the law school had to o er. e presentation of the site was soothing and wel- coming. American University has such a diverse clinical program that ranges from criminal justice (to) immigration justice and domestic violence, to name a few. e school actively prepares students for life after law school, and it o ers self-help options such as yoga, meditation, and martial arts, which are essential to me.”
Pursuing a legal career is a di erent path from the one that Ap- plewhite followed at Alcorn. She is transitioning from psychol- ogy, but she believes her psychology degree will aid her in un- derstanding her clients better and counseling them through the legal process.
“As a lawyer, you provide counsel. You have to know and under- stand your clients during a time when they have no clue how to proceed. I believe that having a degree in psychology will help me in the legal eld because I will have a greater understanding of people.”
22 #GOBRAVES