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In Grades 9-11? Apply to be on Leadership Council!

Do you want to be more involved with Crosby Scholars and become a leader at your school? We would like to invite you to apply to be a part of Leadership Council for the 2024-2025 School Year!

Leadership Council members represent their schools and help find innovative ways to promote and encourage fellow Crosby Scholars at their school complete their requirements.

Log in to your Crosby Scholars Student Portal for more information. Remember applications open March 18th and will close on March 29th. Late applications will not be accepted. Note, that you will need a letter of recommendation from a teacher, coach, or mentor. Parents cannot write the letter of recommendation.

Duties of Leadership Council Include but are not limited to:

  • Attend and represent Crosby Scholars at their high school open house. Members must also attend an open house training at the end of Summer.
  • Represent Crosby Scholars during Rising Freshmen Open house, club fairs and other similar events throughout the school year.
  • Attend and contribute to dicussions and topics during quarterly Leadership Council Member Meetings, virtually or in-person. Additional meetings may be called if necessary to share important updates.
  • Willing to reshare Crosby Scholars social media content on platforms available to them.
  • Influence students to complete their Academy and community service requirements
  • May be asked to attend events as volunteers, including the Senior Honors Celebration in the Spring. Seniors must attend this event in its entirety.

Applications are now closed. The final results will be announced on May 20.

If you have any questions or concerns, please let us know by emailing highschool@crosbyscholars.org.

Staff Feature: Richard Watts’ Story of Service

Richard Watts lives by a powerful motto: “Believe in yourself and believe in your dreams. If you can do those two things, there is nothing that can hold you back.”

Watts, who serves as the assistant director of Crosby’s AAMPED (African American Males Pursuing Educational Dreams) program, holds unwavering faith in his students and their potential. He states “AAMPED gives me the opportunity to express to kids… believe in yourself and believe in your dreams. I am going to help you and your family figure out that pathway, whatever it may look like.”

Watts credits his passion for giving back to key role models and mentors in his journey, such as a faculty advisor at Wake Forest who played a paternal role in his life. “He would take me off campus on the weekends, I would be with his children, be a part of his family; when I couldn’t go home for Thanksgiving I would come to his house for Thanksgiving dinner. I have learned through him and some other people: give back.”

Growing up in Fredericksburg, Virginia, Richard Watts drew early inspiration from his parents, who, despite not completing high school, worked tirelessly to provide for their five children. Watts also speaks to the blessing of a high school guidance counselor who encouraged him to aim high and apply to out of state universities. “I got accepted to Wake Forest and they gave me a better financial package. I needed money, they gave me almost a free ride, and so I said ‘I’m going to Wake Forest.'”

In his life, Watts has elevated passion over ambition. Upon learning of his acceptance at Wake Forest, his friends and family attempted to dissuade him from pursuing a teaching career.
“People would tell me ‘in teaching you don’t make any money, it’s a hard job and a lot of work’. But I knew it inspired me and I stayed the course because that was my passion, and I am just grateful that I did.”

After graduating from Wake Forest, Watts became an 8th grade social study teacher, and was rewarded with a long and meaningful career in education; “those are some of the best memories I ever had; I got all my students in my cell phone just about, those 10 years were great times.”

Watts’ career is a testament to his motto. His time at Crosby Scholars has followed a thirty-two year stint in education, where he served as a teacher, assistant principal and principal in the WSFCS school district. In addition to his work with AAMPED, Watts now serves as a member of the WSFCS School Board, and continues to pastor his congregation of thirty-six years at Rickards Chapel AME Zion Church.

The common thread in Watts’ many roles? Servant leadership: “You can be a leader by serving, and I’ve always tried to do that; all three of these roles I consider to be ministries: helping people, helping young people, and serving the community.” Richard Watts isn’t one to chase opportunities; they seem to chase him. Many of Watts largest career milestones, such as becoming a pastor and assistant principal, were the result of answering the call of his community. These ‘positive blessings’ as he calls them, have both shaped his path and touched countless lives.

Offering encouragement to young people, Richard emphasizes self-belief: “find what it is that excites you, what inspires you – It may not be college; it may be work after high school, it may be military, but whatever that IT is, pursue it…that is going to lead you to other opportunities.”

Whatever students choose, he encourages them to follow their hearts and have open conversations with their families about their aspirations, “eventually find your passion, and just go for it.”

Story by Haley Dyer

2023-24 Community Service Requirement

Community Service Online Form
Community Service Printable Form
Volunteer Opportunities
Partner With Us

2022-23 Deadlines:

Grade 12: January 31, 2023

Grade 11: January 31, 2024

Grades 6-10: April 19, 2023

Crosby Scholars are required to complete two hours of community service each school year. Scholars must submit a form – either online or via a paper copy to document their hours to complete this requirement for Crosby Scholars.

  • Use the buttons to the left to submit the online or paper community service form or search for volunteer opportunities.
  • No adult signature is needed on the online community service form. 
  • To learn more about submitting the community service form, please click on the deadline for your grade.

We appreciate that scholars are committed to completing the requirement and want to allow for students to be creative and innovative in their approach to volunteering. Please click on the Volunteer Opportunities button to the left to view both virtual and in-person opportunities.

Due to our nonprofit status, we are unable to accept volunteering on the political campaign of a specific candidate or political party as community service.

Questions? Please contact us!

Call our office at (336) 725-5371 or email us:

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Para enviar sus horas de servicio comunitario o buscar oportunidades de voluntariado, use los botones a la izquierda.

Apreciamos que los estudiantes se comprometan a completar el requisito y permitir que los estudiantes sean creativos e innovadores en su enfoque de voluntariado. A la luz de las muchas restricciones que COVID-19 ha seguido imponiendo a todos nosotros, el personal de Crosby Scholars ha realizado los siguientes cambios al requisito de servicio comunitario 2021-22:

  • Para el año 2021-22, los estudiantes podrán someter horas de servicio voluntario en su vecindario, cómo ayudar a los vecinos con el trabajo de jardinería, limpiar el parque del vecindario, etc.
  • Aceptaremos horas para ayudar a los hermanos menores con trabajos y proyectos escolares en línea.
  • No se aceptarán horas de servicio comunitario para tareas rutinarias o cuidado de niños realizado en su propio hogar.

Debido a nuestro estado de organización sin fines de lucro, no podemos aceptar el voluntariado en la campaña política de un candidato específico como servicio comunitario.

 

Miriam Hernandez named Twin City Trailblazer

Winston-Salem, NC - This year, in partnership with the Winston-Salem Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the Delta Arts Center, the City of Winston-Salem Human Relations and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Department is excited to be implementing the inaugural Twin City Trailblazers Award, in honor of Women’s History Month. This award is in recognition of women who have been barrier breakers, leading leaders, and/or civil rights advocates in our local community.

Based on the exemplary work in and dedication to our community, Miriam Hernandez has been selected as one of the Twin City Trailblazers honorees! Miriam will be honored at the inaugural Women’s History Month program, featuring the Twin City Trailblazers, in addition to Female Firsts, on Thursday, March 30, 2023.

Miriam has eliminated numerous barriers to connect Crosby Scholars to the Hispanic community. She started our award winning Excelencia program to assist Hispanic girls and their families in learning about the benefits of education, as well as SHE - Show Help Employ - to introduce minority girls to STEM early in their education.
Congratulations, Miriam! Thank you for your leadership and dedication to Crosby Scholars as our Hispanic Outreach Coordinator over the last 11 years, and continuing to support our Hispanic Families in your retirement. We are better because of you!

Blue Cross NC awards CSCP $500,000 to pilot a Foster Care Youth Initiative

December 8, 2022

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina has awarded the Crosby Scholars Community Partnership $500,000 to pilot a five-year Foster Care Youth Initiative

Winston-Salem, NC – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) has awarded the Crosby Scholars Community Partnership $500,000 to pilot a five-year Foster Care Youth Initiative to increase the number of Forsyth County foster care youth who enroll in 4-year and 2-year colleges or other post-secondary educational opportunities.

“We are fortunate to have this opportunity to reach a new target group thanks to Blue Cross NC’s support,” said Mrs. Mona W. Lovett, President and CEO of Crosby Scholars. “Foster care youth have the lowest college-going rates among students, and Crosby Scholars has resources to boost their success in attaining post-secondary education,” said Lovett. 

Better Care Network reports that just 20% of foster youth who graduate from high school attend college. However, 84% of 17 to 18-year-old foster youth want to go to college.

Students in the Foster Care Youth Initiative will benefit from Crosby Scholars programming, one-on-one advising, and Last Dollar Grants helping them to prepare for college, as well as enroll and afford college. The Crosby Scholars Program will also offer workshops for foster parents to help them understand how to support their foster children in pursuing their post-secondary plans. Additionally, once a student in foster care joins the Crosby Scholars Program, the student will be eligible for program resources even if they move outside of Forsyth County. 

“Our work with the Crosby Scholars Program reflects the reality that post-secondary education and training opens doorways to better paying jobs, providing greater access to nutritious food, healthy housing, transportation and the other non-medical resources essential for good health,” said Blue Cross NC’s Senior Vice President of Government Markets Fran Gary. “We are committed to investing in initiatives that give every individual the opportunity to be healthy, and we are proud to collaborate with the Crosby Scholars Community Partnership toward a shared vision of a healthier, happier North Carolina.”

Crosby Scholars will collaborate with the Forsyth County Department of Social Services and Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools to identify students in foster care early, so they can be connected to an advisor in sixth grade when Crosby Scholars programming begins. The Crosby Scholars FCYI Advisors will connect with the students in multiple ways, including individual and small group meetings during school hours and engaging foster parents to develop an individualized plan to reach their post-secondary goals. Students will benefit from tutoring, mentoring, and life skills and career exploration workshops. Advisors will also offer assistance in completing college admission and financial aid applications, exploring apprenticeship and certification opportunities, and funding opportunities. 

The FCYI will allow for ongoing contact with students after they enroll in college to ensure they have the support and resources they need. 

“We look forward to being part of the fabric of community support for our foster care youth by helping them to pursue their post-secondary goals and boosting their economic mobility,” said Lovett.

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina:

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) is committed to making health care better, simpler and more affordable. We have been driving better health in North Carolina since 1933, working to tackle our communities’ greatest health challenges. Blue Cross NC serves its customers and communities of 4.3 million members, including approximately 1.1 million on behalf of other Blue Plans. Blue Cross NC is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Visit Blue Cross NC online at www.bluecrossnc.com. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

About Crosby Scholars Community Partnership 

Since 1992, Crosby Scholars Community Partnership has helped students in public middle and high schools in Forsyth County prepare academically, personally, and financially for college admission and other post-secondary opportunities. Crosby Scholars is a community partner of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. In 2012, an alliance was formed with Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina establishing Crosby Scholars as an independent affiliate of Goodwill, which has allowed Crosby Scholars to expand to serve Rowan and Iredell counties. 

With a 30-year history of providing career and college exploration, admissions and financial aid workshops, one-on-one advising services, college visits, community service opportunities, cultural experiences and over $900,000 in scholarships and Last Dollar Grants for college tuition annually, Crosby Scholars now serves more than 11,000 students each year and has over 13,000 alumni. In 2019, the National College Attainment Network awarded Crosby Scholars the College Access Organization Award of Excellence. 

To learn more about Crosby Scholars visit www.crosbyscholars.org or contact us at info@crosbyscholars.org or (336) 725-5371. For further information contact: Hayley Sink at hsink@crosbyscholars.org or (336) 725-5371.

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Crosby Scholars’ Hayley Sink named a Top Community Leader Under 40

November 9, 2022

Winston-Salem, NC – Winston Under 40 recognized Hayley Sink, Crosby Scholars Community Partnership's Marketing and Engagement Officer, as one the community’s top 25 outstanding leaders under 40 in 2022. 

Awardees “are excelling in their field, contributing to the community, and demonstrating strong leadership for Winston-Salem and Forsyth County,” according to Winston Under 40.

“Crosby Scholars is so fortunate to have the energy, talent and enthusiasm that Hayley brings each day,” said Mona Lovett, President & CEO of Crosby Scholars. “She is a Crosby Scholar Alumnus, and we are so proud tohave her on the team as we work to prepare the next generation of Crosby Scholars... For College. For Life."

Hayley, a first-generation college student, has boosted Crosby Scholars' community presence through her creativity in varied marketing tools, publications, communications, and PR that promotes Crosby Scholars' many programs. 

Crosby Scholars assists 6th to 12th grade students in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County public schools in preparing for successful college enrollment and other post-secondary educational opportunities. Hayley leads student engagement at Crosby Scholars, which requires each of our 11,000 students to complete at least two hours of community service annually.  Hayley has developed new opportunities and contacts for Crosby Scholars to learn and understand community needs. She connected Crosby Scholars to SPARK (Share Peace and Rekindle Kindness), a partnership that has provided additional service opportunities with an educational component, so students learn why what they are doing matters.

During COVID and the need for social distancing, Hayley reimagined Crosby Scholars’ Senior Gala, our annual event that celebrates our graduating high school seniors and their families with approximately 1,000 attendees. To honor our seniors, Hayley coordinated the 2021 celebration at The Drive drive-in movie theater on the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds and in 2022, at The Winston-Salem Dash baseball stadium. 

Hayley manages Crosby Scholars' AmeriCorps VISTA members through the Winston-Salem Community Action Coalition. These are individuals interested in community-based work, such as poverty alleviation, economic development, education equity, or health and food justice. She creates positive learning experiences and opportunities that enable them to successfully contribute to Crosby Scholars' mission and feel a part of our overall team. She is also a member of Reynolda Rotary, where she serves as Co-Chair of the Scholarship Committee. She serves as Secretary of the Board for Moji Coffee, which employs and enriches lives of individuals with diverse abilities.  

“She brings out the best in her co-workers, and success follows for Crosby Scholars as a whole,” said Angie Murphrey, Director of Development for Crosby Scholars. “It is her nature to offer assistance whenever possible. At a young age, Hayley brings a valuable balance of experience and new ideas to Crosby.” 

About Crosby Scholars Community Partnership 

Since 1992, Crosby Scholars Community Partnership has helped students in public middle and high schools in Forsyth County prepare academically, personally, and financially for college admission and other post-secondary opportunities. Crosby Scholars is a community partner of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. In 2012, an alliance was formed with Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina establishing Crosby Scholars as an independent affiliate of Goodwill, which has allowed Crosby Scholars to expand to serve Rowan and Iredell counties. 

With a 30-year history of providing career and college exploration, admissions and financial aid workshops, one-on-one advising services, college visits, community service opportunities, cultural experiences and over $900,000 in scholarships and Last Dollar Grants for college tuition annually, Crosby Scholars now serves more than 11,000 students each year and has over 13,000 alumni. In 2019, the National College Attainment Network awarded Crosby Scholars the College Access Organization Award of Excellence. 

To learn more about Crosby Scholars visit www.crosbyscholars.org or contact us at info@crosbyscholars.org or (336) 725-5371.

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Crosby Scholars Scholarship Season is HERE!

It’s Crosby Scholars Scholarship Season!

Over 30 Crosby Scholars Scholarships opened in the Crosby Scholars Student Portal on October 1st!

Check out our Scholarship Handbook for the full list of Crosby Scholars Scholarships, application instructions, documents required for scholarship applications information about the review process, important dates, frequently asked questions, and more!

Students can submit scholarship applications in their Crosby Scholars Student Portal.

Questions? Email finaid@crosbyscholars.org

2022-2023 High School Leadership Council Results

Congratulations to the High School Leadership Council elected members for the 2022-2023 school year! Each student self-nominated and then elected by their peers through a voting process. We still have some space available for self-nominations! If you see your school is missing a member for your grade and you are interested in joining, email us at highschool@crosbyscholars.org

Atkins

  • President: Emily Lin
  • At-Large Senior: Ezekiel Bradley
  • Vice-President: Dave Srinivasan
  • At-Large Sophomore: Love’ Burgess
  • At-Large Freshman: Aryaman Shukla, Aryn Goldenstein, Justine Mourkos, Kamya Evans, Jocelyn Hayes, Kamryn Edmon and Paige Kiesling

Carter G. Woodson

  • President: Tyshawn Campbell
  • Vice-President: TBA
  • At-Large Sophomore: TBA
  • At-Large Freshman: TBA

Carver, TBA

Early College

  • President: Michelle Cruzat
  • At-Large Senior: Ashley Silva Martinez
  • Vice-President: Grace Isiguzo
  • At-Large Sophomore: Ari Brown
  • At-Large Freshman: Casey Milestone and Ava Hardy

East Forsyth

  • President: Kourtney Cooper
  • Vice-President: Alexandria Warren
  • At-Large Sophomore: Sawyer Wemyss
  • At-Large Freshman: Annalee Mathis and Kyla Penn

Glenn

  • President: Erika Ayon
  • Vice-President: Aniyah Mayes
  • At-Large Sophomore: Hayden Harper

Kennedy

  • President: Carley Vawter
  • Vice-President: TBA
  • At-Large Sophomore: TBA

Middle College

  • President: Jolie Hauser
  • At-Large Senior: Maryanna Cooper
  • Vice-President: TBA
  • At-Large Sophomore: TBA

Mt. Tabor

  • President: Adam Cartwright
  • At-Large Senior: Kiarra Wilson
  • Vice-President: Evelyn Mata
  • At-Large Sophomore: Aliyah Coplin
  • At-Large Freshman: LaKoya Price and Carly Surrell

North Carolina Leadership Academy

  • President: Julia Davis
  • Vice-President: Emmerson Guldberg
  • At-Large Sophomore: TBA
  • At-Large Freshman: Wenda McLaurin, Emma Gwyn and Reagan Gauldin

North Forsyth

  • President: Makayla Adams
  • At-Large Senior: Nancy Fernandez-Salgado
  • Vice-President: TBA
  • At-Large Sophomore: Ian Torreblanca Aviles
  • At-Large Freshman: Zion Johnson

Paisley

  • President: TBA
  • Vice-President: TBA
  • At-Large Sophomore: Braylon Robinson

Parkland

  • President: Tobi Onasanya
  • At-Large Seniors: Ian Franco and Gabriela Ochoa
  • Vice-President: TBA
  • At-Large Sophomore: Nathan Garcia

Quality Education Academy, TBA

Reagan

  • President: Taniska Sharma
  • At-Large Senior: Morgan Stone
  • Vice-President: Jack Sweeney
  • At-Large Junior: Mallory Maxey
  • At-Large Sophomores: Sophia Hoover and Emma Claire Thompson
  • At-Large Freshman: Addison Nichols

Reynolds

  • President: Danielle Moody
  • At-Large Senior: Najia Scott
  • Vice-President: Sarah Welsh
  • At-Large Sophomore: Nina Howards
  • At-Large Freshman: Lauren Bodenheimer, Gracie Ward and Frii Sampson-Young

Walkertown

  • President: Kooper Bray
  • Vice-President: Kendrick Ferguson
  • At-Large Sophomore: Journie Barr

West Forsyth

  • President: Zuri Sweatt
  • Vice-President: Katherine Lee
  • At-Large Sophomores: Jessica Benitez and Rachel Bliss
  • At-Large Freshman: Ethan Fox and Kenzie Bullins

Winston-Salem Preparatory Academy

  • President: Julianna Woody
  • Vice-President: Betzy Mendoza-Noyola
  • At-Large Sophomores: TBA

Crosby Scholars holds Breakfast of Champions event in Bermuda Run

BERMUDA RUN, N.C. — WXII 12 News — A special breakfast was held on Tuesday morning in Bermuda Run in honor of Crosby Scholars, the free college access program that serves all of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Public Schools for students in grades 6-12.

Tuesday’s “Breakfast of Champions” welcomed the class of 2022 to the Crosby alumnae family and was followed by the 16th Annual Crosby Scholars Invitational Golf Tournament, which raised $300,000 in grants and scholarships.

WXII 12 News spoke with a few of the graduating seniors at the event who shared what being a Crosby scholar means to them, as well as the experience they’ll take with them, as they begin their college careers.

Soon-to-be East Forsyth High School graduate, Regan Rhymes, said “There is a community service requirement, along with the academies, and having that preparation and just that consistency throughout each year, having that dedication to service…and also being able to network with a bunch of leaders across Forsyth County..it has enabled me to become a better leader.”

Another member of WS/FCS’s 2022 graduating class, Jayla Summers, attends Reagan High School and shared:

“The community service and the leadership has really helped me become the person that I am today, as it’s allowed me to be involved in other extracurricular activities, and just help people at my school,” Summers said.

Leaders of Crosby Scholars and alumnae spoke during Tuesday’s breakfast, as well as former WXII 12 News Anchor Cameron Kent, who was the guest speaker of the event.

To watch the full story on Breakfast of Champions visit wxii12.com.

Crosby Scholar Joshua Cloud never missed a day of school! Headed to NCCU.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Winston-Salem Journal — Until this year, Joshua Cloud, a graduating senior at Atkins High School, didn’t even realize he’d never missed a day of school.

His perfect attendance means he went to school for approximately 2,340 days, starting in kindergarten.

He’s one of just a few seniors to do so this year.

Cloud, 18, said it was harder to achieve perfect attendance during the pandemic, when classes were held online, stressing how exhausting it was.

“(It’s) hard to get yourself out of the bed when you have to just get yourself on the computer,” he said.

Cloud is studying health sciences at Atkins, a high school specializing in STEM. He’ll attend North Carolina Central University in the fall and plans to be a pre-med major.

At Akins, he is involved in National Honor Society, Black Achievers, and African American Males Pursuing Educational Dreams as a Crosby Scholar. He also played basketball all four years of high school and lettered.

Outside of school, he volunteers in his community.

Not only did he achieve perfect attendance, but his mother Deborah Barr-Cloud noted that he also kept up his grades, which allowed for his induction into the National Honor Society.

“(He) did that during the pandemic,” Barr-Cloud said, “…and (he) need(s) to be rewarded for that.”

Cloud said that his primary motivation for going to class every day was to make sure he did not make more work for himself by missing assignments.

Barr-Cloud also credits her son’s successful attendance record to him only getting sick during spring breaks.

As well, she said that as an only child, Cloud had to learn responsibility from working alone.

“(This is a) feel good moment (to) let other students know it can be done,” his mom said. “People deserve to have a feel-good moment.”

To watch the full interview visit journalnow.com.

Pictured with Mrs. Mona Lovett, President & CEO of Crosby Scholars, at Breakfast of Champions on May 24, 2022.