2021 Nationwide Future Leaders Scholars
Sponsored by Nationwide, this scholarship is awarded to high-achieving Black students attending a four-year college or university pursuing degrees in risk management and insurance, data analytics, insurance, finance, accounting, IT/Technology, Actuarial Science, HR/Organizational Development, Cybersecurity, Computer Information Systems or related fields to the aforementioned areas.
The 2021 class received a two-year, need-based scholarship in the amount of $12,000 to assist with educational expenses for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 academic years.
Amaya Bruce
Amaya Bruce is a junior finance major at Howard University. She is involved in many activities and affiliations such as Beta Alpha Psi International Honor Society, the Finance and Investment Club, and Bison Volunteer Alliance. These memberships allow her to develop academically, professionally, and socially. Bruce has shown leadership skills in various capacities, namely, by serving as an HU Day of Service and ASB team leader. These allow Bruce to be a leader in roles that directly support offering service to others, which is something that Bruce does with purpose. Bruce has also managed to maintain an exceptional academic record. She has been recognized for numerous academic achievements, including being a dean’s list scholar every semester. Bruce plans to apply and enhance her skills during the Summer of 2021 as an intern at M&T Bank.
Angela Leal
Angela Leal is a sophomore, honors finance major at Howard University. She is currently completing her Bachelor of Business Administration degree and looks forward to pursuing a career as a financial analyst upon the completion of her undergraduate studies. Leal is from Providence, Rhode Island, and became interested in the financial field at a young age. As evidenced by her strong work ethic and the intensive professional development that she has undergone, Leal is not only ready to take on a role in the financial industry, but to stand out and excel.
Angelica Armstrong
Angelica Armstrong is a junior studying computer engineering at Rutgers University. She is affiliated with different organizations such as EOF (Equal Opportunity Fund), Reilly Dellc (Reilly Douglass Engineering Living-Learning Community), and LSAMP (Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation). These organizations cater to minorities in STEM by creating a safe space for them as well as allowing them to connect with others who may go through similar challenges. Armstrong has been on the dean’s list since her first semester (Fall 2019) at Rutgers, which has allowed her to achieve a 3.7 GPA. Armstrong is currently doing research associated with Rutgers, where she is developing code for an app connected with an Arduino through Bluetooth.
Darrin Lilly
Darrin Lilly is a junior at the College of William & Mary, studying computational and applied Mathematics & statistics. Lilly is interested in investment banking and is interning at Credit Suisse in their investment banking division this summer and at Evercore in their mergers and acquisitions group for summer 2022. This gives him the opportunity to learn more about businesses and different industries while also being able to have a direct impact and enhance these businesses. On campus, Lilly is heavily involved in the Finance Academy, Student Government, African American Male Coalition, and the Financial Literacy Project. Lilly also has co-founded a financial literacy company that teaches underrepresented communities about the importance of obtaining financial freedom and personal finance foundations. Raised in Raleigh, North Carolina, Lilly enjoys working out, watching sports, and reading in his spare time.
Farid Soyemi
Farid Soyemi is a junior at the University of Maryland, College Park, studying information systems and Supply chain management. Soyemi is from Laurel, Maryland. He is interested in cybersecurity, tech assurance, and data analytics. Soyemi remains active at his university by joining organizations such as the University Student Judiciary, College Success Scholars, as well as the UMD Division of Student Affairs. He is a strong advocate of community service and dedicates his time volunteering at organizations such as the New York Avenue Men’s Emergency Shelter and Safe Haven, Inc. This summer Soyemi is interning at KPMG as an Embark Intern. In his spare time, Soyemi enjoys reading books, watching sports, and spending time with friends and family.
Genesis Santana
Genesis Santana is a sophomore concentrating in finance and real estate at the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management at Cornell University. She is a Program Assistant for Dyson’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion office, where she develops programming to promote belonging at Dyson. She also supports her peers as a Teaching Assistant for Dyson’s core financial accounting class. She has interned at two companies, JetBlue Airways, CBRE, and DREAM Charter School in Harlem, NY. Before college, Santana took a gap year and obtained her Federal Aviation Administration Airframe and Powerplant licenses that certify her to work on aircraft. As a first-generation college student, Santana values giving back to communities. Her commitment to community service has led her to receive multiple exemplary service awards, including being named a Coca-Cola Scholar, Ron Brown Leader, PIMCO Scholar, Bank of America Student Leader, and Dyson Diversity Scholar.
Jordyn Hill
Jordyn Hill is a junior economics major with a minor in strategic communications at Howard University. As a sports enthusiast, Hill hopes to pursue her professional career in the business world of sports. She’s interested in both the executive office as well as broadcast journalism. On campus, Hill currently serves as the treasurer for Prison to Professionals and the Economic Development Chair for the NAACP chapter at Howard. She is also an active member of Breaking the Cycle and a natural hair care group, Tangles. Raised in Atlanta, she spends her spare time with friends and family, volunteering at a local park or school, binge watching her favorite Marvel movies, and working out.
Nneoma Emeka
Nneoma Emeka is a determined and hardworking junior pursuing a finance degree at Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business (GSU). She is highly passionate about problem-solving and strategic thinking, which led Emeka to focus her interests on consulting, strategy operations, and wealth management. To pursue these interests, Emeka has accumulated hands-on experience through customer-facing roles at Hardees and Apple. Emeka is an active member of professional development programs such as Management Leadership for Tomorrow and SEO Success. She is also involved in the GSU Investment Management Group as an analyst and simultaneously gives back to the community through her volunteer initiatives at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. In her spare time, Emeka enjoys exploring museums and experimenting with her photography and writing skills.
Timothy Davis
Timothy Davis is currently a junior attending Morehouse College and is from Birmingham, Alabama. He is pursuing a degree in business with a concentration in marketing. Even in a virtual learning environment, he continues to make the effort to be involved in campus life and student organizations. DAvis is a board member of two organizations known as CASA and LYTEhouse. At CASA, he serves as the CASA Cares Director, creating and facilitating community service projects and events. For LYTEhouse, Davis assists with mentorship programs and helps construct meetings. In the previous two semesters, Davis was acknowledged for his outstanding grades and was selected for dean’s list.
Zene Willoughby
Zene Willoughby is a junior at Cornell University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in industrial and labor relations with a minor in inequality studies. Prior to transferring to Cornell as a sophomore, Willoughby was an Honors Academy student at the City University of New York: Brooklyn College. Willoughby has been on the dean’s list every semester. During the 2020-2021 school year Willoughby was the Club Connector and Event Coordinator of Women of Color at Brooklyn College and is currently the Vice President of Education of the INROADS’ chapter of Toastmasters International. During the Fall 2020 semester, as a marketing intern at a tech start-up, Willoughby helped develop the company’s diversity and inclusion initiative. Willoughby hopes to pursue a career focused on Diversity and Inclusion. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Willoughby has a love for diversity and culture. Willoughby enjoys cooking, traveling, and spending time with her family.
