LEXINGTON, Ky. — A new scholarship provided by Devine Carama’s ONE Lexington, Galls, Central Bank and the City of Lexington will make way for future criminal justice and public safety leaders. The scholarship has a goal of helping address racial disparities while decreasing the burden of paying for college.
Nola Lewis remembers that while watching the movie ‘The Call’ growing up, she was instantly intrigued with actress Halle Berry’s performance.
Now, as a senior at Lexington’s Bryan Station High School, she’s on the fire safety and criminal justice program at Eastside Technical Center. Lewis is also the winner of the ONE Lexington ‘Be The Change’ scholarship, which is a renewable scholarship worth $20,000 over the course of 4 years.
Lewis uses class time to practice putting on fire gear and is learning the ins and outs of public safety leaders.
“I think you’re supposed to be able to put it [fire gear] on in under a minute,” Lewis said.
The BSHS senior has been a part of the pathway program since her sophomore year in high school. She’s able to take classes that offer dual credit and let her skip some college classes. She’s already earned credit for English 101 and is on her way to earning credit for English 102.
“So basically I’m putting on these big fire pants, my boots, my gloves and you gotta make sure everything is tucked in,” Lewis said.
Lewis splits her time between BSHS and Eastside Technical Center. For the senior, she says it’s stressful at times, but it’s worth it.
“I never thought I was going to go into something like police officers or firefighters because everybody wants to do something like that when they grow up,” Lewis said.
Lewis was originally on the path to be an architect, but she figured out in her sophomore year that wasn’t her calling. She’s thankful for that change of mind because it put her in the perfect position to be the winner of the ‘Be The Change’ scholarship.
“I am so proud of Nola and Asha and their commitment to serving our community in the criminal justice and public safety field,” Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton said in a statement.
Asha Chekanao won runner-up with a one-time scholarship of $10,000.
“Having this opportunity today really means a lot to me,” Chekanao said.
Chekanao’s dream is to be a criminal justice lawyer. She plans to take her talents to Northern Kentucky University.
She’s working hard during her senior year to finish AP classes.
“I feel like that’s the field where I can bring justice and help people out there. There’s a lot of people struggling in jail, especially maybe people of color or like Black people. There’s a lot of people that I want to fight for,” Chekanao said.
As a Tanzanian refugee who came to America 5 years ago, Chekanao says this scholarship opportunity is one she’s thanking Carama for.
“I really am so grateful for him, for the opportunity and the way he’s working for the community and the way he’s trying to step up as a Black man,” Chekanao said.
Across Kentucky, the most recent data from the Council of Postsecondary Education states attending a four-year university can put students in debt by nearly $30,000.
“Trying to figure out how all the financial aid I was going to get was going to cover everything and just not having to worry about that anymore is just another weight off my shoulder,” Lewis said.
Lewis plans to take her talents to Eastern Kentucky University.
Both girls will graduate from Bryan Station High School this spring and then move on to their college journeys.