Fatima Smith is the latest to become a McNair Scholar. Fatima is a graduate of East Gaston High School. She has been very active in her community. With a focus of helping others, Fatima has volunteered as a Youth Advisor for Cancer Services of Gaston County, the Salvation Army Christmas Center and Second Harvest Food Bank. In school Fatima was a member of the varsity basketball, soccer and golf teams. She was a member of the Beta Club, National Honor Society and National

Kennedy Byrd is a graduate of Clayton High School. While at Clayton she excelled tutoring, writing and the debate club. Kennedy graduated in the Top 10 on the Honors list. One of her joys is volunteering. She has voluteered with the Big Sister program, UNC Hospital, feeding the homeless and the Black Lives Matter Movement. This fall Kennedy will be a freshman at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.