1st Place Winner
My name is Michael Cleveland, a 2017 honor graduate of Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta, Ga. I am a devoted child of God. I attend Walker Tabernacle Baptist Church where I serve God as a Junior Deacon and by being an active member in the music and educational ministries of my church. During my high school experience, I was heavily involved in the Early College program where I attended Atlanta Metropolitan State College and graduated with college credit, as well as The National Beta Club, The Tri-M Music Honor Society, The Marching 100 Band, and Yearbook. Since childhood, watching my mother work as a paramedic I have had the desire to one-day work in the medical field. I devoted 146 hours to volunteering in the E.R. at Grady Health Systems the summer of 2016 which inspired me to want to become an E.R. Physician. I chose to attend Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans where I will major Biology Pre-Med with a Chemistry minor. After I obtain my bachelor’s I will either attend Morehouse School of Medicine or Meharry Medical College for medical school. . I am extremely grateful for this opportunity which will help contribute to my success. Thank you.
1st Place Winner
My name is Michael Cleveland, a 2017 honor graduate of Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta, Ga. I am a devoted child of God. I attend Walker Tabernacle Baptist Church where I serve God as a Junior Deacon and by being an active member in the music and educational ministries of my church. During my high school experience, I was heavily involved in the Early College program where I attended Atlanta Metropolitan State College and graduated with college credit, as well as The National Beta Club, The Tri-M Music Honor Society, The Marching 100 Band, and Yearbook. Since childhood, watching my mother work as a paramedic I have had the desire to one-day work in the medical field. I devoted 146 hours to volunteering in the E.R. at Grady Health Systems the summer of 2016 which inspired me to want to become an E.R. Physician. I chose to attend Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans where I will major Biology Pre-Med with a Chemistry minor. After I obtain my bachelor’s I will either attend Morehouse School of Medicine or Meharry Medical College for medical school. . I am extremely grateful for this opportunity which will help contribute to my success. Thank you.
2nd Place Winner
My name is Eboni Diamond Washington, a native of the South Bronx, New York currently living in Chiang Mai, Thailand where I own a vegan soul food pop up shop called Vegan Traphouse. Our sole mission is to promote veganism while raising awareness about Black American culture through food and education. I hold my Bachelors of Arts in Radio-TV-Film from the illustrious Howard University and am now currently enrolled at the University of New England obtaining my Master of Social of Work. While attending Howard, I volunteered with an organization called Lady Me where we mentored and tutored “at-risk” high school females. Since being in Thailand, I was given the opportunity to lead several English camps for Thai students focused on health and environmental conservation. This fall, I will begin my internship with Burmese refugees here in Thailand. My ultimate goal is to become an international social worker and work specifically with oppressed indigenous populations around the world. I believe in the saying "no one is free while others are still oppressed" and cultural competency plays a vital role in positive human interaction. With the help of the Rahman Alim Strum Scholarship, I will be able to continue my venture in helping individuals in various communities achieve better mental, physical, and emotional health. I will be forever grateful for this award.
ABOUT US
The Rahman Alim Strum Scholarship Incorporated in memory of Rahman's humanitarian works around the world, his love for family and friends and overall scholastic achievements. Rahman traveled to third world countries to study abroad and to preserve clean water in distraught areas. Rahman was involved in clubs and organizations at school and development in the community all while maintaining a high grade point average at school.
Congratulations to our 2025 Rahman Alim Strum Scholarship Winners!!!
1st Place Scholar - Kaden Hasty
The journey toward becoming a neonatal nurse is one I embrace with purpose, compassion, and
a deep desire to care for others at their most cri:cal and delicate moments. My passion for
nursing began at an early age as I watched my grandmother dedicate over 40 years to the
nursing profession. Her stories and unwavering compassion inspired me to pursue a path where
I could make a meaningful difference in the lives of others, especially children.
As a 2026 graduate of Westlake High School, I was ac:vely involved in organiza:ons inside and
outside of school that strengthened both my leadership and commitment to service, including
the Na:onal Honor Society, BETA Club, Health Occupa:ons Students of America (HOSA), 21st
Century Leaders, CRAJ Student Ambassador program, and Women of Westlake. Outside of
academics, I enjoy baking cookies and experimen:ng with new flavors, which allows me to
express my crea:vity. This fall, I will aVend Georgia State University to pursue a degree in
nursing, with the dream of one day caring for newborns and their families in a Neonatal
Intensive Care Unit.
My interest in nursing deepened through hands-on experience during my internship at the
Shepherd Center, where I worked with pa:ents recovering from spinal cord and brain injuries. I
assisted with art therapy and pool therapy sessions while observing pa:ent care in a clinical
seZng. This experience opened my eyes to both the challenges and rewards of healthcare. This
experience strengthened my commitment to pursuing a career in neonatal nursing, where every
moment of care can have a las:ng impact.
Service has always been a cornerstone of my journey. Volunteering at St. Francis Soup Kitchen,
par:cipa:ng in the #Lunchbag program, and helping organize food, clothing, and toy drives
through my church have shown me the importance of serving others with dignity and respect.
These experiences taught me that healthcare extends beyond clinical seZngs and begins with
understanding the social and economic challenges individuals face. As a future nurse, I hope to
advocate for holis:c care that addresses not only medical needs but also the emo:onal and
social factors that influence a pa:ent’s well-being.
I am deeply grateful to the Rahman Alim Strum Scholarship CommiVee for inves:ng in my
future. This scholarship is a tremendous blessing to both me and my mother, helping to ease
the financial burden of college and allowing me to focus on achieving my dream. I am
commiVed to paying this opportunity forward through con:nued service, purposeful ac:on,
and, one day, by becoming a financial supporter of the Rahman Alim Strum organiza:on so that
future students can pursue their dreams as I have been blessed to pursue mine.
2nd Place Scholar - Jacques King
The Spirit and Gift of Service
The greatest quality of a leader is the ability to serve. I strongly believe that to become a
great leader you must first become a great servant. Volunteerism is important to me, for so
many reasons, one being strengthening the community. I have served with the nonprofit
organization, Save Our Youth Savannah (SOYS) since about 2021. It is an organization that is
dedicated to serving low income families experiencing homelessness and/or poverty. It it one
of my greatest accomplishments, as I love to serve. I have volunteered over 100 hours of my
time, offered support during events, donated goods to families in need, and showed up to offer
my time and physical strength as needed. It promoted my personal growth, fueled my desire
to give back and gave me purpose. I led and served with love in hopes of bettering and
supporting my community.
I did that while balancing a busy schedule at school. I graduated in the Top 10.5% of my
class while playing varsity football and baseball, and being a respected role model in my
school. I a lso earned credits from Georgia Southern University via dual enrollment.
I plan to use my degree to build a career in real estate development and investing.
My service with SOYS has helped shape my career path. Because of my service with SOYS,
I have made a conscious decision to tailor my studies to learn and master business
practices. This will help in my real estate quest to implement innovative strategies to
produce quality affordable housing. It is my desire to return to my community and be a
part of the solution to help prevent the displacement of people who have called Effingham
County home for most of their lives. I will use my educational experience and invest to
contribute to my community through ventures that effectively address the crisis of lack of
affordable housing.
My passion and love for people and humanity will be evident in every project
that I touch. I will utilize my gifts and talents to contribute to my community through
ventures that effectively addressed the crisis of lack of affordable housing putting people
before profit. It is my hope that my business model for investing in and creating affordable
housing in my community would have become a blueprint to follow and a testament of
my passion to pour back into my community in an intentional and meaningful way.
I am thankful for the Rahman Alim Strum Scholarship Committee for this
opportunity. I would like to extend my gratitude to you for your generosity in creating
and funding this scholarship. It will definitely bless me and my family. Thank you for
helping me get closer to my goal of a college degree with zero debt. I will continue to pay
this forward through investing in my community through demonstrable action and other
intangible ways.
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3rd Place Scholar - Jakari Brown
​My name is Jakari Brown, and I’m a junior majoring in Agricultural Sciences with a
concentration in Pre-Veterinary Medicine at Southern University and A&M College. I’m
passionate about animal health, sustainability, and uplifting communities through agriculture
and related fields. My ultimate goal is to become a veterinarian who not only provides expert
care to various species—but also use my platform to inspire the next generation and champion
diversity, equity, and access within veterinary medicine.
As a young African American woman, I know firsthand how rare it is to see someone who
looks like me in veterinary spaces. That reality pushes me to be the change. I want to be a
role model for underrepresented youth, especially those who have aspirations in my field but
question if they’re possible. I want them to look at my journey and feel seen, inspired, and
empowered.
One of my long-term goals is to own a farm that hosts outreach programs for students from
underserved communities—creating a space where they can learn, heal, and find purpose
through hands-on exposure and mentorship. This dream is about more than animals—it’s
about showing he next generation that greatness lives within them.
I’m deeply grateful to the Rahman Alim Strum Scholarship Inc. for supporting students like
me in turning passion into purpose. With your support, I will not only pursue my goals—I
will open doors for others to walk through, too.
Presenters Corinne and Andre Strum
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VOLUNTEERING
We encourage future scholarship recipients to volunteer and give back to their community. Volunteering allows individuals to be abreast about what is going on in their community and also being the change they would like to see.
STUDENTS
Students can take advantage of a great cause by furthering their education. Students coming from socioeconomic stricten communities and facing socioeconomic hardships surely can close the gap between other social classes. Furthering one's education ultimately opens up more opportunites for ones self, being in a better position to land a job you want and potentially earning more income.
PARENTS/EDUCATORS
Parents and educaters play a vital role in student's success'. We must nuture, understand, care, spend quality time, teach and challenge their intellect. They depend on us to show them the way. Lets get involved and show them!
SUPPORT
EDUCATION
Socioeconomic status (SES) is often measured as a combination of education, income, and occupation. It is commonly conceptualized as the social standing or class of an individual or group. When viewed through a social class lens, privilege, power, and control are emphasized. Furthermore, an examination of SES as a gradient or continuous variable reveals inequities in access to and distribution of resources. SES is relevant to all realms of behavioral and social science, including research, practice, education, and advocacy.
We believe that socioecnomic status and education plays a large role in society. At the Rahman Alim Scholarship, Inc we would like expand the distribution of resources, equalize the access to education and close the gap between those who may face socioeconmic hardships or coming from socioeconmoic deprived communities versus those that may not.