Naja Weinkle, who graduated in May from Dreher High School, has been awarded the 2024 Dr. Percy A. Mack Leadership Scholarship.
The $1,000 scholarship is awarded annually to a Richland One high school senior who demonstrates leadership skills and potential, as well as well-rounded involvement in co-curricular activities. The scholarship is named in honor of Dr. Percy A. Mack, who served as the district’s superintendent from 2008-2014. Dr. Mack is also a member of the Richland One Hall of Fame.
Naja’s honors and awards include being an AP Capstone Diploma recipient, a Richland One High School Scholar and a National Merit Scholarship finalist. While at Dreher, she was a member of the Student Council, National Honor Society, National Art Honor Society, Key Club and the cross country team. She also was the founder of Dreher’s chess club.
As Key Club president, Naja worked to get members more involved in the local community, including through organizing a river clean-up and by scheduling members to volunteer for weekly visits to residents at a nursing home.
In her scholarship essay, Naja wrote, in part: “Leadership means sharing purpose, fostering enthusiasm and inspiring growth. Leadership means bringing change to improve the community and enabling others to do the same.”
Naja will be attending the University of Michigan, where she plans to major in engineering. She is the daughter of Tristan and Ella Weinkle.
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Naja Weinkle (center) is the 2024 recipient of the Dr. Percy A. Mack Leadership Scholarship. The scholarship is named in honor of Dr. Percy A. Mack, a former Richland One superintendent and a member of the Richland One Hall of Fame. This year’s scholarship presentation was made at the August 13 Richland One Board of School Commissioners meeting. Pictured with Naja are (from left) Commissioner Tamika Myers; Ella and Tristan Weinkle, Naja’s parents; Richland One Superintendent Dr. Craig Witherspoon; and Dr. Percy A. Mack.
