Two part-time jobs to help her mother pay the bills.
Trips to Haiti to offer aid to those less fortunate.
Six years of advanced classes to learn more and teach others.

Say hello to Rebecca Dawson.

A senior at a Georgia high school, Rebecca demonstrates excellence and passion in work, faith, and academics, and the Discus Awards recognize Rebecca for her numerous contributions to her family and the community, both local and international.

Rebecca is one of the two winners of the first Discus Scholarship, a scholarship presented to select Discus Award winners every month of the school year. Evaluating Rebecca's excellence in three of 10 key attributes, a panel of judges named her as the recipient of the the $2,000 college scholarship.

The Discus Awards is a high-school awards program that honors students who excel in and out of the classroom. The Discus Awards look beyond grades, scores, and win-loss records and recognize students for their multi-dimensional talents and passions.

Rebecca is making her mark on the world, and the Discus Awards is honored to provide her with the pen. 

		Work
		“My mother is a single parent… I work two jobs to help pay the bills.” She’s not afraid to sweat, and she’s got the calluses to prove it. Like teenagers her age, Rebecca has a job. But unlike many, she’s not looking for extra spending money for the mall or movies. Instead, Rebecca picks up as many as three shifts a week at the museum and carriage tour company to help her mother sign the checks every month.

		Faith
		“I am there [at Savannah Christian Church] an average of 3 days out of the week and am involved in the technology ministry, Sr. High ministry, and Elementary ministry.” Rebecca’s faith has taught her about doing good, and helping others is a message she advocates. But she isn’t just talk. Rebecca spends afternoons at her local church and has taken multiple mission trips to Haiti to help those in need. The hours in her community and outside of it, especially in other countries, continue to add up, but no one’s keeping track. As Rebecca told the Discus Awards, though much of what she does is undocumented, her outcomes certainly aren’t.

		Academics
		“I have worked relentlessly for years to present the most rigorous academic resume I possibly could.” Juggling two jobs and numerous activities at her church, Rebecca still manages to find time for class. And it’s not just any class. She successfully challenges herself in her studies at school through year after year of advanced courses in math, science, history, and French. Rebecca takes what she has learned and teaches those in her ministry and those abroad.

Learn more about Rebecca Dawson and other Discus Award winners