Helen Lee Gentry Scholarship Fund is delighted to announce its Scholarship Recipients for the 2025-2026 Academic Year! These African-American Scholars have distinguished themselves academically, in the community and in their churches and will attend post-secondary institutions such as University of Pennsylvania, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Spelman College.
Taryn S. Billups
Taryn is a resident of Birmingham, Alabama and is an exceptional scholar, leader, and community servant. Graduating high school in May 2024 with a 4.66 GPA and holder of an IB diploma, she now attends the University of Alabama at Birmingham as a junior, maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA while double majoring in Spanish and Neuroscience with a minor in Chemistry. Her Academic honors include being a National Merit Finalist, Yale Book Award for Outstanding Character and Intellect, AP College Board Scholar with Distinction, AP College Board National African American Scholar, Alabama Writers’ Forum Three-Time Awardee, Mu Alpha Theta Honor Society Chapter Treasurer, and National English Honor Society Chapter President. She also has served as a student government representative, and peer tutor. As a member of Elevation Church, she has been a 4-year youth member, a 2-year Student Leadership Program member and has served as a captain in Elevation Church’s Student Leadership Program. She is the recipient of their Student Leadership Scholarship and has served as a host team leader and been invited to speak at the Youth Ministers’ 2024 Conference. Her commitment to service includes volunteering with the Alabama State Department’s Inspiritus Refugee Resettlement Program assisting refugees to become socially acclimated serving as Camp Counselor. She also has served as the host in YouthServe, a Community Conservation on Inner-city High School Sex Education program and has received one of their Youth in Service Awards. While in high school she worked as a UAB lab technician and Christ Health Medical Clinic patient data analyst. Taryn’s outstanding achievements and dedication make her a highly deserving recipient of this scholarship.
Brooklynn A. Jackson
Brooklynn is a graduate of Wyoming High School, has a 3.9 GPA and has taken AP Environmental science, Spanish Language and Culture, and Psychology. She is highly recommended by her school’s Director of College Counseling and Chair of the Delta GEMS program. She plans to attend Spelman College, majoring in Psychology. Her school activities include serving as National Honor Society Secretary, as well as excelling in tennis, earning Best Player and Outstanding Doubles awards, and is the Wyoming High School Newspaper Editor. Her high school has awarded her with the Critical Thinking Award, the Collaborartion Award, the Engagement Award and the Committed to Character Award. As a member of Light of the World Church, she has spent three years accumulating over 200 hours in outreach ministry, recently becoming an assistant in 2024, coordinating meals and leading the delivery of 285 Blessing Bags for the homeless. Passionate about mental health advocacy, she is a Hopeful Empowerment Youth (HEY) Fellow, a Mental Health First Aid Certified advocate, and a dedicated volunteer with the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition. She is also a Delta GEM, serving as Vice President of the Advancing Culture Equality & Success (ACES) program, organizing college tours, and Black History Month events. She attended the Professional Business Institute at Wright State University and the Women of Color Engineering Summer Camp at University of Cincinnati. She is involved in civic engagement as a poll worker and member of NAACP. She has work experience at Dairy Queen, and the Wyoming/Woodlawn Rec Elite Early Learning Center. Brooklynn exemplifies leadership, service, and academic excellence, making her a deserving recipient of this scholarship.
Rachel L. Starghill
Rachel is a Sycamore High School graduate where she has acquired a 4.48 GPA. She plans to attend University of Pennsylvania, majoring in Speech and Hearing Science or Business Administration. Her Christian leadership includes serving as Youth Church Leader at Corinthian Baptist Church, where she coordinated major events like “A Day of Blessing” and the Holiday Chimneys initiative. Her extracurricular activities include being involved in DECA, serving as a mentor for three years and president for two years. Rachel co-founded and serves as the Chief Marketing Officer for the Sycamore American Library Project, a project which builds sustainable libraries in underfunded African communities raising over $1000 and collecting over 1000 books in under a month. She held leadership roles in the National Chinese Honor Society providing over 650 service hours in the Chinese community. She is also Lab Leader in the Synnovation Lab, a student advocacy program providing accessible student support. She has had several responsibilities including mentoring 13 students in public speaking, English, History, and time management. Her community service extends to Jack and Jill of America, where she acted as the Regional Strategic Planning Co-Chair, Super Saturday Co-Chair, and Chapter Teen President. Additionally, she provides tutoring at Breakthrough Cincinnati, and has shadowed professionals at ABC Pediatrics Therapy Network, and leading STEM education teams at Camp Invention. With her dedication to academics, leadership, and service, Rachel is a highly deserving recipient of this scholarship.
Please join the Helen Lee Gentry Scholarship Fund in congratulating this awesome, accomplished set of young scholars and community volunteers and wish them well in their academic pursuits!
About Helen Lee Gentry Scholarship Fund
The Helen Lee Gentry Scholarship Fund recognizes and honors African-American students that live a Christian lifestyle, exemplify academic excellence, and contribute to our community. The Helen Lee Gentry Scholarship Fund is a non-profit corporation in memory of Helen Lee Gentry, who was an active member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church and Southern Baptist Church for many years. The Fund has awarded over $25,000 in college scholarships to very deserving students who attend prestigious colleges such as Tuskegee Institute, Duke University, Spelman College, The Ohio State University, Wellesley College, Bowling Green State University, Marquette University, University of Cincinnati, Anderson University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Alabama at Birmingham, North Carolina AT&T and Wittenberg University.
Young women making good choices in life. Nice to see them honored in this way