We start a new journey with fifteen young children from Children International

We have started a new program where we sponsor children from different countries in the world through Children International. Growing up in poverty, children face tough challenges: hunger and malnutrition, limited access to education and medical services, social discrimination and isolation. But with this program, we can help children get the health care, education, life skills, job-readiness training and confidence they need to create lasting change in their lives and communities. Together, we can end poverty and continue our YAF mission of being a force for good. Our sponsored children (click on name for more information) are:

  1. Alex Edgardo from Honduras

  2. Almer Caleb from Honduras

  3. Arlannis Gonzales of the Dominican Republic

  4. Dawn Margarette from Philippines

  5. Damiam Yadiel from Ecuador

  6. Elaine Tejada of the Dominican Republic

  7. Joanny Mercedes of the Dominican Republic

  8. Juan Pablo from Mexico

  9. Lia Issabella of Guatamala

  10. Maria Ysabella from Philippines

  11. Maribel Polanco of the Dominican Republic

  12. Natalie Orolfo from Philippines

  13. Nataly Maytte from Guatemala

  14. Riberia Nakazwe of Zambia

  15. Sofia Noemi of Honduras

AY 2025-26 Yohan Abraham Scholarship Recipients

This year we announce we have awarded the Yohan Abraham Memorial scholarship to two very promising candidates both of whom have served in the US armed forces: Our returning scholarship awardee is Joshua Pham who as you remember served as an army medic with many tours of duty. Based on his outstanding academic performance he was awarded the scholarship for the senior year. The junior scholarship was awarded to Dylan Watson. Dylan served in the Marines where he drove/controlled aquatic vehicles which he jokingly calls water tanks. He was at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina and spent some time at a base in California. He is taking summer classes and contemplating future internship opportunities.. This year Mandy Beaty (Yohan’s love) from our foundation was on hand at the award ceremony and had the pleasure of meeting our scholarship holders and was able to learn from them first hand their stories and where they are now both career wise and in life.

AY 2024-25 Yohan Abraham Scholarship Recipients

This year we are delighted to announce we have awarded the Yohan Abraham Memorial scholarship to two very promising candidates: One serves in the National Guard and the other is an Army Veteran. Jack Clark who won the same award during his junior year again won the award for the senior year. The junior scholarship was awarded to Joshua Pham who served as an army medic in multiple tours of duty and like Yohan is on an eight year rotation serving his seventh year currently. This year our treasurer was on hand at the award ceremony and had the pleasure of meeting many of our past scholarship holders and was able to learn from them first hand their stories and where they are now both career wise and in life.

Meanwhile, the STEAM bus chugs along at Smith County School district

This picture is a page from the New Middleton Elementary School yearbook. The teachers were talking about how much the kids enjoyed the bus and how they hope it gets to stay for a while again next year. The bus is a shared platform for STEM education for the ten schools in the SCSD. Thought our donors might like to hear that it is being loved despite its late entry due to the pandemic!

We have our 2023 scholarship winners and they are Jack (junior) and Shelbi (senior).

Our junior scholar for AY 2023-24 is Mr. Jack Clark. Jack is a member of the ROTC and a junior in accounting. He is seen with his mother and stepdad along with Mandy and from YAF. Jack has a very similar career path to Yohan and plans to serve in the armed forces before embarking on a career in business and accounting.

Our senior scholar is Ms. Shelbi Brewer who was our junior scholar last year. Shelbi has shown exemplary performance and is graduating in accounting along with courses in business law. She hopes to be a dual major hoping to make a career in company and business law areas. Shelbi appears in the next photograph with her mother and Mandy and Diane from YAF

Grace Smith, Yohan Abraham Scholarship Recipient

Grace Smith went to school at Lebanon High School in Lebanon, Tennessee participating on the soccer team.  While in school, she worked diligently at Chick-fil-A since she was 15 and continues to work there full-time as a supervisor for the 5:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. shift. 

Working full-time and attending school full-time, Grace enrolled at Cumberland University, a local private college, then Volunteer State Community College where she earned her Associates Degree.  Seeking more opportunities, she transferred to MTSU as a marketing major.  She really loved Dr. Sarah Garven’s Principles of Accounting I course and with Sarah’s persuasion changed her major to accounting.  Grace was no stranger to accounting as her mother works in accounting for PFG.   An outstanding junior, Grace is enrolled in Intermediate Accounting I and Cost Accounting currently. 

Grace attended Elliott Davis’s Summer Leadership Program “Energize” last summer and was offered a full-time internship in audit for Summer 2022. 

Grace loves how accounting builds on each topic and says Professor Rebecca Foote is her favorite as she is very helpful and personable.  She really likes MTSU and appreciates that everyone is so helpful and wants you to get a job.

Grace has another responsibility this year – planning for a September wedding!  Her fiancé is a construction apprentice and will be going into MTSU’s acclaimed Construction Management Program in the future.

Congratulations Grace on your Yohan Abraham Scholarship!

Cierra Thomas, Yohan Abraham Scholarship Recipient

Cierra Thomas grew up in Woodbury, Tennessee and went to school at Cannon County High School.  In high school she was involved in the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) which turned into Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA).  She participated in enterprise competitions in New York City and Pigeon Forge, TN.  Her group developed an internet business called Freedom Trail Outfitters where they served as an intermediary for high quality camping gear.  She also worked in a bakery and waited tables at a local restaurant which has since closed due to the pandemic.

She is currently interning at a local Murfreesboro CPA firm, Grannis & Associates, since August and works about 20 weekly hours.  She is excited about the upcoming busy season and says they have been preparing her well.

Cierra started MTSU as a business administration major.  She really loved Jacobs Chair Tom Walker’s Principles of Accounting I course and with Tom’s persuasion changed her major to accounting.  An outstanding junior, Cierra is enrolled in Intermediate Accounting II and Accounting Information Systems currently. 

Cierra likes accounting for its organization, numbers and detail-orientation.  She also likes the variety of opportunities it provides.

Cierra is very involved in community service.  She helps her mom a lot who is employed by Murfreesboro City Schools, with her church group distributing baskets for the elderly and with community groups that help provide assistance to domestic violence victims.

Congratulations Cierra on your Yohan Abraham Scholarship!