Congratulations to Ania Dawson, our Spring 2026 recipient of the Genie McMeans Jr. Scholarship. Ania has recently graduated from Fayette County High School. Ania is very passionate about environmental justice, as she has seen, firsthand, how environmental challenges can impact a family member’s health. During her time in high school, Ania organized community cleanups with her school’s Green Club, created up-cycling projects through social media, and shared weekly sustainability tips on the school’s announcements, all while helping her mom navigate the environmental impact on her health.
What's Next for Ania?
Ania will attend Yale University where she plans to double major in environmental science and political science. She wants to serve her community through advocacy, volunteerism, and mentoring by helping young women and students from underserved communities pursue education in STEM. We are so proud of Ania and happy we can aid in her mission to improve the environment around us!
More About the Genie McMeans Jr. Scholarship
The Genie McMeans Jr. scholarship is a $500 scholarship awarded to students who exhibit perseverance through adversity. Genie McMeans Jr., known affectionally as “Junior”, was a first-generation college graduate who sadly became a victim of police brutality shortly after his graduation. He was a loving son, brother, uncle, and friend. Although our time with Junior was cut short, we honor his memory by continuing his spirit of scholarship, service, and community.
To learn about the scholarship requirements or apply for the next scholarship cycle, please visit our scholarship page.
