2024 JMBFL Scholars
Jada Bruce
Jada Bruce is a senior at Alton High School. Jada is a hard-working student holding a 3.9 GPA. She has studied in many advanced placement classes and is a member of National Honor Society, Student Council Class President, AACE Leadership, Biology Club, Physics Club, Drafting Club, Spanish Club, Link Crew, and Trio/Upward Bound. She has been a dedicated volunteer and pushes others to have a sense of service. Her long list of volunteering includes serving with the Alton Section NCNW, YWCA Child Enrichment Program, and Saturday Café lunch program feeding the needy. Jada’s exceptional leadership landed her over 15 awards such as Third Team All-conference, Cheering Academic All-Conference, National Cheerleading Association All-American Cheerleader, and Illinois Cheerleading Coaches Association Senior Scholar. Jada had been described as “unflappable.” She wants to “mentor the next generation to spread awareness on how to deal with being different in a group of people.” Jada plans on continuing her education in Architecture.
Samantha Kulish
Samantha Kulish is a senior at East Alton-Wood River High School. Samantha holds a 4.3 GPA while being busy as a member the National Honor Society, Saturday Scholars, Big Sisters, Spirit Club, Senior Olympiad, and Dream Home Charities. She is also the captain of her Varsity Volleyball team. Samantha’s volunteer list includes Bake Sales, mentoring and teaching at Volleyball Camps, and ushering at the Alton Little Theater. Samantha’s awards include Regional President’s list for Lewis & Clark Community College, MidWest Members Credit Union Athlete of the Month, Local Gold-Level Renaissance, and awards with Local and National Honor Society.
Samantha wants to develop programs for young children to promote equality and erase racism from a young age. She is a determined student who is not afraid to ask questions. Samantha plans on continuing her education in Human Development and Family Science.
Isabella Hall - Renewal
Isabella Hall is a senior at Alton High School. She is a part of multiple organizations, such as the National Honors Society, Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honors Society, Pathway to Womanhood, and Art Club, as well as her local church. Isabella currently works at 1st MidAmerica Credit Union. She has maintained a GPA of 4.64 while taking a full roster of honors and advanced placement courses. Isabella was first encouraged to engage in community service by her grandmother, and volunteering has always been a part of Isabella's life, whether it be food drives, walks, fundraisers, or reading to children. Volunteering for food distributions exposed Isabella to the injustices that plague her community and motivated her to i to join the fight against them. In 2020, as the editor-in-chief of her school's yearbook, she created a section of the yearbook dedicated to the Black Lives Matter protests. Isabella plans to continue her fight against social and racial injustice through a career in data analytics. She hopes to aid small minorityowned businesses in communities across the country so that they can go on to make their impact in the world.
Emma Smith - Renewal
Emma Smith is a senior at Civic Memorial High School. She is a part of several organizations, such as the National Honors Society, Spanish Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society, and Illinois State Scholars. She has been a dedicated volunteer with Salvation Army, Special Olympics, and the Red Cross. Emma has balanced work, volunteering, and clubs while maintaining a GPA of 4.98. Throughout her high school career, Emma has held many leadership roles. She has been class president for all four years and was elected student council president for her senior year. During her time in these positions, Emma surpassed the Prom fundraiser goal of $4500, collected over 200 socks for Socktober, and brought back two student talent shows and graduation cords for student council members. She has been awarded the Principals' Award, Pillar Award for Leadership, and the Madison County Urban league's Empowered Youth Award for her performance in these roles. Emma plans to continue her education in nursing and eventually obtain a career in healthcare management.
Tristan Johnson - Renewal
Tristan Johnson is a rising junior majoring in Political Science & Women's and Gender Studies at the University of South Carolina. She is currently the the Recruitment & Retention Chair for USC Women's Club Rugby, and is President and Captain-Elect for next year. Tristan currently works as a Resident Mentor for University Housing and does community service both in the Columbia, SC area as well as back home in Hardin, IL with the American Red Cross, Hardin American Legion, and more. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a career in state or local politics where the needs of constituents can most easily be met.
Guadalupe Calixto - Renewal
Guadalupe is a 2nd-year JMBFL Scholar and a proud child of Mexican parents that have taught her how to embrace her culture to the world. She is currently attending Saint Louis University majoring in Biochemistry on the Bachelor of Science track to pursue scientific research. Guadalupe has been active in the Audre Lorde Scholars organization on campus. The Audre Lorde Scholars facilitate discussions ranging on a wide variety of topics including the misogyny that women face within their homes across racial and ethnic lines; bodily autonomy for women; trauma of racism on the bodies of Women of Color; navigating the workplace environment as Women of Color; and inequities in healthcare access for marginalized women among other topics. Guadalupe has also been active with the Holy Rosary Church in Fairmont City, assisting with the Spanish and Bilingual mass. In addition, she assists with food drives, church picnics, tutoring, and visiting the elderly in conjunction with the many groups she associates with. Guadalupe hopes that “the YWCA mission will help me and many students be prepared to be leaders and advocates for social justice in our communities.”
Samantha Evanoff - Renewal
Sam is a Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology major at Washington University in St. Louis with a minor in Biology and French. She plans to become a pediatric emergency medicine physician after going to medical school. Currently, she is on the Young Professionals Board of KEEN St. Louis, an organization that empowers youth with disabilities and impacts volunteer coaches through participation in free, non-competitive, one-on-one programs of physical activity and fun, supporting the overall health and well-being of all participants. She is also in Heart for the Unhoused, a WashU club. The goals of her club are threefold: to allow unhoused individuals to take their basic vitals through health fairs, to work with community partners and provide the support of a dedicated student population via transportation, resource accumulation, volunteering, etc., to assess sentiments both concerning and within the unhoused community in the pursuit of a better direction in resource distribution. In addition, she is the volunteer coordinator of Ability WashU, a club created to inform people about disability issues, and in general to work toward the inclusion of people with disabilities everywhere. Currently, Ability is engaged in their Accessibility Campaign where they rate campus facilities on their usability. They score each building based on a checklist developed by Dr. Dashner of the Medical School.
Renee Raglin - Renewal
Renee Raglin, a sophomore at Western Illinois University, is pursuing a major in Exercise Science/Occupational Therapy. Her ambition is to become an Occupational Therapist and establish her own clinic in her hometown of Alton. With a stellar track record, Renee is celebrated as a record-holder for women's long jump at Quincy University.