Pictured left to right are 2020 scholarship recipients Matty Beeson, Madeline Litty, Emily VonCannon, and Alex Ingram.
Sandhills PRIDE, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting and increasing awareness of the LGBTQ+ community in the Sandhills, has selected four high school seniors in the Sandhills region to receive a total of $10,000 in scholarships.
The recipients are Emily VonCannon of Moore County, Mattie Beeson, of Montgomery County, Alex Ingram, of Cumberland County, and Madeline Litty, of Scotland County. Each awardee will receive a $2,500 scholarship geared toward helping them pursue higher education. Applicants are selected as winners based on their academic accomplishments, letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities, personal qualities demonstrated through their essays, and advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community.
Emily VonCannon is the acting president of Pinecrest High School’s Mock Trial Team and plays as the cello assistant principal for the Moore Philharmonic Orchestra. Additionally, she served as the Student Government’s liaison for mSpectrum, Pinecrest High School’s LGBTQ+ student group. Emily plans on majoring in International Relations or Political Science, and she hopes to work in diplomacy or political analytics.
Mattie Beeson attends Montgomery County Early College. She has volunteered with second-grade girls to develop their self esteem, tutored for a Christian mhomeschool program, and worked a part-time job at Domino’s Pizza. She has held multiple officer positions in student organizations, including Student Government, Beta Club, and Phi Theta Kappa. She plans on working in LGBTQ+ rights in the future.
Alex Ingram is earning his high school degree at Fayetteville Academy. Alex is president and co-founder of the Eagle Pride Club, treasurer of his school’s chapter of National Honors Society, and is an Eagle Scout. He has organized student involvement at Pride Events and has protested for immigrant rights. He intends to pursue a degree in English. Madeline Litty received an A+ in almost one-third of her classes at Scotland High School. She is captain of the Varsity Soccer Team, stage manager of Encore Community Theatre, and secretary of the Anchor Club. She is a National Beta Club Poetry Champion and plans on developing space for the LGBTQ+ community through film and television.
*This press release was sent out in spring of 2020.