Chelsea Detrick Memorial Scholarship

Current Chelsea Detrick Memorial Scholarship Recipients

Sloane Carfield, Julia Fowler and Janya Johnson

While the Chelsea Detrick Memorial Scholarship typically provides one student who embodies the qualities of Chelsea: conscientious, hard-working, motivated, intelligent and admired by WGHS teachers for their attitude and personality, with a $1000 scholarship, renewable for up to 4 years. 

But this year, we had 3 amazing candidates for the scholarship, and we simply could not choose, so we called in reinforcements, and asked Mr Detrick to conduct interviews with each of them. Spoiler alert: he couldn’t choose, either.  And once I tell you more about them, you will understand why.

I met Sloane Carfield and Julia Fowler the summer before their freshman year, and they have carved their own unique pathway through the Chelsea Center, focused mostly on service leadership, whether creating a COVID supply stand, working behind the scenes at Webster Rock Hill Ministries or building capacity in Hixson Middle School’s future leadership through their mentoring as well.  Sloane participated in a transformational journey through her participation in Cultural Leadership and Julia interned at a local accounting and financial advising firm. Luckily, both participated in our Teaching & Learning Cohort this year, where they taught in local elementary schools and managed to survive being in a two-hour yearlong block class with me.  Sloane will continue her pursuit of a career in education this fall while Julia plans to pursue business.  

Janya Johnson has also blazed her own path at WGHS through her work with the Chelsea Center.  Janya showed up in our office her sophomore year, a quietly tenacious young person and is leaving us a focused and committed advocate pursuing a life in obstetric medicine.  She takes advantage of every single opportunity available to her. Moreover, she acts outside her own interests and works to open access to STEM and leadership opportunities to her peers.

Each of these young women embody the spirit of the Chelsea Center—they dream big, they engage in meaningful work, and they not only grow but help others grow as well. 

I am so proud for Sloane, Julia, and Janya to receive their certificates of recognition.