Morgans Award First Six Flags-Sponsored Scholarships

State Rep. Alisha Morgan (D-Austell) and her husband, Cobb Board of Education Vice Chairman David Morgan honored the first recipients of their on Saturday morning at in Mableton. Rolando "Richie" Zenteno and Ruby Bansah will each receive $500 to put toward their education at a college, university, or technical school in Georgia.   

"I am proud of our awardees. Rolando and Ruby are incredibly smart and accomplished young people," stated Rep. Alisha Morgan in a Georgia House of Representatives release. "They are a true representation of the best and brightest in our state.”

Rolando, an undocumented 2012 graduate, was one of the scholarship recipients honored Saturday at a special luncheon.

He knows about working hard. He took five Advanced Placement classes his senior year.

“All I want is an education. I love this country as much as they do. I just want to better myself,” Rolando told South Cobb Patch in May.

He plans to attend Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, major in English and eventually become a journalist. Because he is undocumented, many scholarships and tuition assistance is not available to him, although Rolando did earn another scholarship earlier this year.

Rolando is also actively involved in his community and fights for social issues, even if it means being arrested.

Ruby, a 2012 graduate, was selected for her community service, leadership skills and academic success. Bansah has volunteered extensively for both and Emory-Adventist hospitals, is a math tutor in the National Honor Society and volunteered for the National Beta Club’s Adopt-A-Mile project.

In her sophomore year of high school, Ruby joined the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps to develop leadership skills.  She was promoted and served as the Corporal Officer that same year.  These same skills were transferrable to her volunteer assignments at the hospitals. Ruby aspires to be a doctor, which fueled her desire to volunteer in hospitals, but it was also fueled by a deeper desire to have an emotional connection with people. In turn, the people she met taught her valuable life lessons on perseverance, hope, staying true to one’s passions, and also helped to shape her views and values. 

Ruby achieved a GPA of 4.016 and was a member of the National Honor Society, National Beta Club and received a Science Achievement Certificate.  Other accolades include the South Cobb High School Maureen Collar Aware for Outstanding Citizenship, South Cobb High School Excellence in Business Essentials, Certificate of Excellence: Wellstar Cobb Hospital VolunTeen Program, and Certificate of Appreciation: Wellstar Cobb Hospital VolunTeen Program.

“David and I are elated to be able to sow into the educational futures of students in our community,” stated Alisha Morgan in a HOR release.  “I'm grateful for the support of our committee and those who have contributed to the scholarship fund. I am particularly grateful to Six Flags over Georgia for serving as our major sponsor for the first year of the scholarship."