After 25 years of recognizing and rewarding students in grades 4-11 who embrace high levels of academic achievement and community service, the Carson Scholars Fund awards its 10,000th scholarship this year. The CSF gifts $1,000 college scholarships to students who excel academically and selflessly give of themselves, their time, and their talents to others. Every scholarship brings the organization one step closer to co-founders Dr. and Mrs. Ben Carson’s dream of naming a Carson Scholar at every school in the country, said officials.
Carson Scholars are changing the world through philanthropy and academia. Scholars pursue dreams of becoming doctors, educators, entrepreneurs, scientists, and more. These students do not wait until they are adults to start making an impact; instead, they use their gifts and talents to benefit their communities and the world right now, said officials.
Three-time Carson Scholar and first ever TIME Magazine Kid of the Year, Gitanjali Rao, is one of these world changers. She received this honor for her work as a young scientist and inventor. Ms. Rao uses her gifts to solve some of the world’s most complex issues including water contamination, cyberbullying, and opioid addiction.
Carson Scholars make up an evolving generation of influencers. They invent apps, launch non-profits, and start businesses to make the world a better place. For example, 2020 Carson Scholar Dhruv Pai created a group called Teens Helping Seniors, which allows volunteers to deliver groceries and other necessities to elderly homes.
You can also find Carson Scholar alumni leading in the fields of medicine, education, and engineering. These individuals embody what it means to be a Carson Scholar as they pursue higher education and continue to make a positive impact in the lives of others, said officials.
Carson Scholar Dr. Bowen Jiang followed in Dr. Carson’s footsteps as he completed his residency and fellowship at Johns Hopkins University before sharing his talents as a neurosurgeon as the Director of the St. Jude Neuroscience Institute at Providence.
Find the list of new 2021 Carson Scholars here.