CaroMont Health Foundation Announces 2024 Wayne F. Shovelin Scholarship Winner
CaroMont Health Foundation today announced that Aissatou Diouf, a senior at Ashbrook High School, has been awarded the 2024 Wayne F. Shovelin Scholarship. Following an extensive application and interview process, Diouf was chosen to receive a four-year scholarship, worth up to $20,000 each academic year, for undergraduate studies in a healthcare-related field.
“The Wayne F. Shovelin Scholarship is one of the most significant educational contributions provided exclusively to students in Gaston County,” explained Mary Grace Bean, Director, CaroMont Health Foundation. “Aissatou stood out among the candidates this year for her outstanding academic achievements. However, what truly impressed the committee was her maturity and innate ability to lead. We have full confidence she will make an exceptional pediatrician, and we admire her passion and desire to help combat the challenges women and children face in underserved communities.”
A standout student athlete and captain of the varsity swim team, Diouf is also a top-performing student and will graduate in May with an associate degree. Additionally, she is a member of the National Honors Society, participated in North Carolina’s Governor’s School for Natural Science and attended the Commissioner’s School of Excellence. Diouf established a local chapter for Cancer Kids First, a national, youth-led organization that seeks to provide normalcy and childhood experiences for kids and teens facing cancer. In addition to this work, she volunteers with pediatric oncology patients and Strong Like AK, a local group that provides support for families facing pediatric cancer. She will attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill this fall and plans to pursue a double major in Biology and Public Health.
“This was one of the most competitive groups of applicants we have ever had the pleasure of evaluating, all with impressive academic records and extracurricular achievements,” said Jay Nutter, Chair of the CaroMont Health Foundation Scholarships Advisory Board. “Aissatou stood out as a young adult who understands the challenges healthcare professionals face and wants to be part of future solutions. We greatly admired her clarity of purpose and compassion.”
The Wayne F. Shovelin Scholarship is made possible by a generous donation from the Duke Kimbrell family in honor of long-time CaroMont Health CEO, Wayne Shovelin. In addition to the up to $20,000 each year in support for tuition and fees Diouf will receive, she will also have the opportunity to participate in three paid summer internships at CaroMont Health. These internships offer Shovelin Scholars the opportunity to learn from healthcare professionals within their specific interest areas and gain early exposure to the wide range of careers available in healthcare.
To learn more about the programs and services offered through the CaroMont Health Foundation and how you can help, click here.