Fall 2026 Winner of the Public Service Scholarship

David Johnson Jr

David, an incoming freshman at Hampton University, has been awarded $1,000 through the firm’s Public Service Scholarship. In David’s essay, he discusses the opportunities and adversity that helped him develop a passion for public education. David is an outstanding student, maintaining a GPA above 4.0.

Read Their Essay Here:

I remember the moment vividly: my tutee’s smile erupted when he solved a math problem, jumping with a joy that showed me he had just discovered his own capability. That moment marked the beginning of my desire to pursue a career in education within the public sector, where I could help students build both knowledge and confidence.

Through tutoring and my work with Educational Justice, I learned that many students struggle not only with content, but with self-belief, and that the classroom must serve as a place of restoration as much as instruction. My own journey has been shaped by self-doubt as an African American and LGBTQIA+ student navigating environments where I often felt I had to hide parts of myself to belong. Over time, I learned to code-switch as a survival skill, but I eventually realized that authentic leadership required me to stop shrinking and start leading fully as myself.

This shift became clear when I saw my tutee’s breakthrough, recognizing in him the same doubt I had once carried, and understanding that helping him meant confronting my own inner critic.

Today, I maintain a 4.1563 GPA at DuPont Manual High School, complete college-level coursework with the University of Louisville, and have earned roughly 27 college credits through AP and dual enrollment classes. Alongside academics, I serve as Creative Director for One Blue Wall, Social Media Director for the Black Student Union, and a tutor with Educational Justice and SummerWorks, focusing on student confidence and achievement.

My goal is to become a public school educator who works in underserved communities, where I can address both academic gaps and the confidence gaps that often determine student outcomes. Long term, I plan to find a school within the public education system that prioritizes both academic excellence and intentional confidence-building so students are equipped to thrive beyond and in the classroom.

I believe education is one of the most direct ways to improve everyday American lives by expanding opportunity, strengthening communities, and giving students the tools to shape their own futures. Many of the students I work with are not limited by ability, but by access and confidence, and I want a career in government education to change the reality of students like myself.

Growing up as a student who often felt unseen, I understand how powerful representation and consistent mentorship can be in shifting a student’s belief about what is possible. This scholarship would allow me to close a significant financial gap and focus fully on becoming an educator committed to public service and long-term community impact. I am determined to use my education to create classrooms where students build confidence, overcome adversity, and leave with the belief that they are capable of success.

Growing up as a student who often felt unseen, I understand how powerful representation and consistent mentorship can be in shifting a student’s belief about what is possible. This scholarship would allow me to close a significant financial gap and focus fully on becoming an educator committed to public service and long-term community impact. I am determined to use my education to create classrooms where students build confidence, overcome adversity, and leave with the belief that they are capable of success.