I am currently enrolled at Augusta University pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology, and my passion has always centered around people especially children. From a young age, I felt a strong calling to be someone others could look up to, feel safe around, and learn from. As I’ve grown, that calling has turned into a clear purpose, to build a career where I can positively influence children’s lives, whether through health, movement, mentorship, or encouragement. I don’t just want a job I want a role where I can help shape confidence, wellness, and self-belief in the next generation.

I am truly honored to be a recipient of the Smile for Shay Humanitarian Scholarship. Being chosen is deeply meaningful to me because kindness, compassion, and empathy are not just words they are the way I try to live every day. Kindness, to me, is choosing to uplift others even when it’s not required. Compassion is feeling moved to help when someone is struggling. Empathy is taking the time to understand someone’s feelings, especially when they don’t have the words to express them. These qualities are so important, especially when working with children, because kids remember how you make them feel. A supportive adult can change a child’s confidence, mindset, and even their future.

Although I did not have the opportunity to know Shaylin personally, learning about the love and light she shared with others is inspiring. It reminds me that impact is not measured by time, but by the way you treat people. I believe I may have been nominated because I genuinely care about others, have a heart for serving, and always try to lead with positivity and encouragement. Through my career in Kinesiology, I hope to create environments where children feel strong, capable, and valued reflecting the same spirit of kindness and hope that this scholarship represents.                                                            

Rihanna Williams

Katelyn Williams

I am happy to report that I am currently in my third quarter at Georgia Military College and have made the Dean's List the past two quarters. As I continue with my education, I find myself really enjoying environmental science and plan to transfer to Augusta University for their Ecology program. I have always adored animals and would like to pursue a career in wildlife conservation.

It was an honor to receive the Shaylin Elizabeth Foster Humanitarian Scholarship, and I am very grateful for the opportunity to begin my higher education without the worry of financial strain. I remember Shaylin for her kindness and compassion. She has profoundly impacted my family and me, and I try to uphold the kindness and positivity she always radiated to those around her. Kindness to me goes beyond being polite; it's acting with care and compassion towards others, even when it’s difficult. I always do my best to be kind to others, even on days when it’s hard. I am going into wildlife conservation to continue to spread empathy and compassion to the creatures of the world. I hope that through my work and kindness, I will uphold Shaylin’s legacy.

    I currently attend Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, Georgia, where I am majoring in Elementary Education. From a young age, I have felt called to work with children, and my goal is to become an elementary school teacher who creates a loving, safe, encouraging, and inclusive environment for every student. I am incredibly grateful to have been selected as a recipient of the Shaylin Elizabeth Foster Humanitarian Scholarship, as this honor represents far more than financial support for me. 

    Being chosen for this scholarship is deeply meaningful because it recognizes the importance of kindness, compassion, and service- values I strive to embody each day. I believe kindness is the base of everything in life, as one’s heart can touch and help heal others’. Although I did not personally know Shaylin, I have always known that she was remembered for her warm heart and the positive impact she had on those around her. Learning about her legacy has inspired me to be more intentional in the way I uplift and care for others, both in my personal life and in my future career.

    As a future educator, I believe kindness and empathy are foundational to life and learning. Every child deserves to feel seen, supported, and valued, and I hope to be the kind of teacher who makes a lasting difference in my students’ lives. Not only as a teacher, but as a person in general, Shaylin’s legacy motivates me to lead with compassion and to serve others wholeheartedly. I am honored to have a connection to such a beautiful soul and aspire to  honor her memory by leaving a positive and lasting impact on the lives of the children and communities I serve-just as Shaylin always did.                                                                                                                                          

Ella Combs

Henry Stephens

    Currently, I attend Duke University. Since 7th grade, Duke University has been my
dream school. After Duke, I will attend law school and become an entertainment attorney. Thus,
I am beyond grateful to have been selected for this scholarship.
However, my nomination for this scholarship is just as meaningful as the financial
incentive. I’m honored to be recognized for impacting the lives of others through acts of
kindness. I believe that one is not truly living a fulfilled life if they are not uplifting others. My
nomination for this scholarship not only affirms the satisfaction of my moral creed, but also the
perpetuation of Shay’s legacy.
While I did not personally know Shay, those who knew her always affectionately referred
to her warm heart and benevolent persona. The lasting radiance of Shay’s kindness inspired me
to positively impact the lives of others. In fact, I believe that kindness, compassion, and empathy
rests upon the principle of positively impacting the lives of others. Kindness is the purest form of
generosity and consideration for the well-being of others. It is achieved through acts of
compassion and the ability to identify with the feelings of others. This is exactly how Shay lived
her life.
Thus, the immensity of Shay’s legacy of kindness continually inspires me to incorporate
kindness into all of my actions. For instance, as the president of my residence hall, I work with
other students to do random acts of kindness for the janitorial and administrative staff to
commend their dedication to student success. As a future entertainment attorney, I desire to
also practice human rights law pro bono in order to help quell the inequities that characterize

our world. Just like Shay, I want to leave this world better than I found it.

Trinity Taylor

Hannah Alva

    I will be attending Georgia Southern University to major in exercise science, and I plan on earning a master’s degree in Sports Medicine in hopes to become an athletic trainer after graduation. This scholarship has reduced the amount of stress on not only myself but my mother as well, allowing me to focus more on my studies than anything else. I would like to think I was nominated because I exemplified traits of kindness, compassion and empathy within my school and community. Showing others how we should be treating one another in our short time here.

     Kindness, compassion, and empathy mean everything to me. To be kind to one another is the first step to build a relationship. Then you must listen, in order to understand. In church we are taught that the way to be a good Christian is to listen more than you speak. That the lord gave you two ears and eyes, but only one mouth so use them the way they were intended to be used.  After you learn their story and about how their walk through life has been through the years you can then begin to empathize with them, configuring a way to relate, in turn sharing your own story. People who share these traits see the world in a more beautiful way. They see a world, not only from their own perspective but the perspective of others as well.

    I believe that God turns tragedies into blessings. Speaking to Mrs. Foster while on our mission trip to Belize this statement became true right in front of me. In Shaylin’s passing her brightness has continued to shine through everyone she had ever come into contact with and then some. Though I never had the opportunity to meet Shaylin I feel as though I know so much about her just by speaking to her family and friends and seeing her in both Mr. and Mrs. foster who embody her presence daily. Her legacy moves on through them. Her light has transcended through her family’s actions and her community’s as well. From creating such beautiful programs and amazing scholarships that have a deep meaning in Shaylin’s name to the community that knew her bringing people closer to their faith, something Shaylin was passionate about. Our community coming together after such tragedy changed my life in every way. Both physically and spiritually. God turned a tragedy into a phenomenal blessing.

    I am attending college at the University of Georgia and I am studying Political Science with the intent to go to law school, and I am hoping to specialize in constitutional law. I am planning becoming an Appellate Court Lawyer. The University of Georgia has always been my dream school, and this scholarship in Shaylin’s honor has helped me to focus on the more important things as opposed to worrying about finances.

    It was so meaningful to receive this scholarship in memory of such a beautiful soul because just the year before, I lost a close friend and cousin, Stormy Byrd, in a tragic car accident. Although the pain of losing a loved one never goes away, I celebrated the life she lived as much as I could. When Shaylin passed away, the parts about Stormy I loved the most came out of me and allowed me to help others through the terrible loss of one of the kindest people.

    A simple act of kindness can inspire the individual receiving the act to spread more kind nature. Compassion can change someone’s day. The saying that you “never know what someone else is going through on a daily basis” is so true, and it’s important to take that into account. Empathy is an important quality because it allows you to identify with others, not only in their successes and happiness but also throughout their struggles and pain. Kindness, compassion, and empathy are three traits our classmate Shaylin Foster demonstrated avidly. I do hope that this memorial scholarship, along with the strong impact she made upon our school, continues to inspire people who hear her story to be as kind, compassionate, and empathetic as she was.

Quinn Shelt

Taylor Morris

    Two weeks before Christmas 2017 I was at the mall getting a present for my parents when I heard someone say my name. When I finally saw shay she had a bright smile full of pure joy and happiness. Shay ran up to me and gave me a hug and we talked for a while, we walked around and got presents for our parents and just hung out for a little. If I had known that would be the last time I saw her I would have stayed longer, I would have talked more, I would have just spent as much time with her as I could. Shay radiated happiness, she cared for everyone, she was the most loving and selfless person I knew. The whole time we were together she talked about her parents and her love for them. She talked about her brothers and how silly and fun they were, and how much she loved them. Family was the most important thing to Shay, and I can only hope to spread the amount of love and joy as she did. Everyday I strive to follow her example and be someone Shay would be proud to call a friend. 

    I am currently going to school for Criminal Justice and plan to pursue a career in Law Enforcement, hopefully being a positive role model in a career field that is often viewed negatively. The scholarship helped me by bringing my tuition fees down so I can focus more on making good grades then worrying about school costs. 

    Shaylin’s award serves as a reminder to me every day to be a more caring and compassionate person to others. It reminds me of the amazing girl behind it, and the love she had for everyone she met. I think I was nominated because I care for others much like Shaylin did. I hate to see people hurting and try to help in anyway I possibly can. I always have a smile on my face and try to be a positive light in a world that often spreads negativity. 

    Kindness means going out of your way to make someone’s day better and to make a life that is already complicated, a little easier. Compassion means showing someone they aren’t alone, that they have someone they can turn to in times of need. Empathy means showing them you care, listening when they need a friend and putting your needs above theirs. To me kindness, compassion and empathy means being there for everyone all the time. These traits are important to me, because not many people stop to help or care, and everyone deserves a little sunshine in their lives.