“It’s About How We Can Inspire Others”

“I thought it was just a program where I’d be helping high school students receive the 21st Century Scholarship,” he says. “But I learned it’s about so much more.”

Yes, there are those Success Fest events and in-school ScholarTrack Labs where Cotton and other Fellows act as guides and mentors for the next generation of college students. But beyond that, the Fellowship is helping fellows learn, grow, and broaden their horizons.

“What makes the fellowship special is that we are in a program that truly cares for us,” says Cotton. “It gets us to volunteer in the community, provides internships with real-world experience, and gives a staff that’s with us every step of the way.”

Cotton, a graduate of Adams High School reflects fondly on the community opportunities that the Fellowship has provided, including a trip to see Better Homes at the South Bend Civic Theatre and a visit to Transformation Ministries. One day, he’d like to run a community center of his own.

Of course, Cotton is also appreciative of the financial stipend that’s attached  to the fellowship – support that made it possible for him to spend a semester abroad in Europe.

“When I reflect on this program, I don’t just see a scholarship initiative,” he says. “I see a movement of young leaders who are shaping what success looks like for the next generation.

“The Fellowship has reminded me that success isn’t just about what we achieve, but about how we inspire others.”