Program In Action

Todji A. Byrd was a young man who died senselessly and prematurely at the age of 22 years.  T.A. Byrd works to positively impact the lives of youth through tutoring, team building, mentoring, cultural exposure and health and fitness activities.

The Todji A. Byrd Youth Enrichment Program  mission is to provide life enrichment services targeting at-risk youth, building positive relationships that foster individual success. T.A. Byrd has served the communities of Vance and surrounding counties for nearly 15 years and impacted the lives of more than 200 youth through after-school, mentoring, summer camp programs and higher education support.  Students was provided a safe environment where at-risk youth disenfranchised by social and economical boundaries can participate in diverse cultural arts, recreation, interactive education and community solidity. 

We are privileged and so excited this year to announce the Dr. Odessa Lemay-Smith Memorial Scholarship and our first annual “Raising Dollars for Scholars” event!  Proceeds raised will provide college scholarships to high school seniors pursuing post-secondary education. 

Dr. Lemay-Smith, a graduate of Capella University with an earned a Doctorate of Adult Education and Philosophy, served on staff at North Carolina Central University and as a Director for the T.A. Byrd Youth Enrichment Summer Camp.  She was also a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. 

Dr. Lemay-Smith lost her battle to cancer in September 6, 2017 but loved and lived life to the very end. She was a hero for our youth, an advocate for those dealing with mental and emotional issues and an instructor helping others in pursuit of higher learning.

The Dr. Odessa Lemay-Smith Memorial Scholarship will be used as a vehicle to keep Odessa’s memory alive and to celebrate her love, dedication and commitment to education by helping North Carolina students in their pursuit of higher education. 

T.A. Byrd Youth Enrichment Program awards $4,000 through the Dr. Odessa Lemay Smith Memorial Scholarship to high school seniors who will attend an accredited 2 or 4-year college, university or a vocational/technical school in the fall of 2019. After reviewing all of this year’s applications, the Dr. Odessa Lemay Memorial Scholarship Committee selected four scholarship awards winners:

• Ellen Renee Denning – $1,000. Ellen plans to attend NC State University and major in Secondary and Agriculture Education. 
• Jania Transou – $1,000. Jania plans to attend Hampton University and major in Occupation Therapy. 
• Miajha Cimone Rooks – $1,000.  Miajha is undecided however plans to major in BioMedical Engineering. 
• Shamia Hunter  – $1,000. Shamia is undeclded however she plans to major in Biology with a minor in Foreign Languages. 

The Scholarship Committee would like to thank all of the applicants for taking the time to apply for this year’s scholarship award. We wish all of the applicants much success with their college efforts. 

Mark Your Calendar

The  application process for the 2020-21 school year opened March 1, 2020.   However, due  to COVID-19 stay-at-home mandate ordered by our Governor Cooper,  we postponed our annual  fundraiser and application process scheduled for April.  We plan to reschedule both once the order is lifted and citizens are safe again.   STAY HOME, SAVE LIVES!