Two USU Students Beat the Odds and Win $20,000 Scholarships

Having just returned from a service project in Africa, Allia Ramaileh now finds herself in the Canadian Arctic doing research on global warming through Earthwatch. Come fall, the 2007 Bountiful High School graduate, travels to Logan to become a student of Utah State University.

Brooke Evans of Salt Lake City is also a motivated individual. Having graduated from Olympus High School with a 4.0 last spring, she is now working for Great Harvest as a respite worker for an 8 year old autistic child. Evans will also call Logan home this fall as she prepares for her first semester of college at USU. What these two students share in common is each was awarded a $20,000 scholarship by the Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation.

 

“I was so surprised when I learned I got the scholarship, I almost couldn't believe it,” said Evans. “I was torn when I got the scholarship because I had planned on going out of state for school. But the scholarship would not have worked, so I decided that in Utah, USU would be the only way to go.”

 

Both Evans and Ramaileh consider themselves lucky to be chosen as one of the “Colonel’s Scholars.” Of 130,000 applicants nationwide, only 51 were awarded scholarships. Evans and Ramaileh are two of three Utah recipients and both were surprised when they heard that they had beaten the 2,550 to one odds.

 

“I was completely shocked,” said Ramaileh. “I had honestly forgotten that I had applied for the scholarship because it was so long ago. I remember reading an email informing me that I had won and I immediately told my mom. She didn't believe me until I showed her the email.”

 

The Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation awards the $20,000 scholarships every year to high school seniors to pursue a bachelor’s degree. Applicants must attend a public, in-state college or university and are required to complete a lengthy online application process. After submitting the application, the students had to wait more than five months to find out the results.

 

The foundation specifically seeks well-rounded students who have excelled both inside and outside the classroom, characteristics that Ramaileh and Evans both share. While in high school, Evans took AP and concurrent enrollment classes and participated in Community of Caring and the concert choir. She also spent time captaining the cheerleading squad, serving as class president and lettering in both softball and volleyball.

 

Ramaileh, who loves to travel and has been involved in service projects around the world, feels that her well-rounded involvement in activities set her apart from other candidates. In high school she served as a student body officer, a debate team captain and participated in the math club and the Palestinians for Peace organization. She also served as an Arabic teacher at her local mosque.

 

Both Evans and Ramaileh are coming to USU because of its proximity to home as well as the strength of the programs offered in their chosen fields of study. Ramaileh plans to pursue a dual major in environmental engineering, and either French or political science. Evans plans to focus her studies primarily in math.

 

“USU has an excellent engineering program and I really liked the vibe I felt up on campus,” said Ramaileh. “I like the fact that it's away from home, but still close enough I can go home when I want.”

 

For more information about the Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation’s scholarship fund, visit the Web site.

 

Contact: Russell Dyer, rdyer@WeberShandwick.com