Jennifer Daye of Winston-Salem, NC is a senior at Wake Forest University, and is majoring in Psychology. Jennifer is a Zachary T. Smith Leadership Scholar. Made possible by the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, the Zachary T. Smith Leadership Scholarship is a competitive award given to incoming Wake Forest University freshmen based on need, leadership experience, and academic standing.
Jennifer grew up in Winston-Salem and has always been very close to her family.
“Family is majorly important to me, so it did play a large role in my college decision,” she said, going on to speak on her admiration for North Carolina and the area.
When Jennifer was awarded the Zachary T. Smith Leadership Scholarship, it made her decision to stay close to home even easier.
“Wake Forest was perfect because it is such a fine school right here, so I did not have to look too far. When I got the scholarship, I knew.”
However, Jennifer did not have intentions of simply spending time at home throughout her four years at Wake. She managed to become involved on campus through different organizations and within her academic focus, continue her leadership and career development.
“One of my biggest achievements this far in my educational career is being able to strike a balance between academics, work, extracurricular activities, and fun. On top of normal student commitments, I also work full time off campus. I believe that balancing all of it has shaped me into a leader that handle anything.”
During her final year at Wake, Jennifer plans to start applying to graduate schools to pursue a career in counseling. She is ready to take her dreams to the west coast to share and grow with others across the nation. Though Jennifer is ready for change, she wants to do it strategically, and in a way that will set her up for stability in the future.
She is also grateful for all the opportunities she has had through this scholarship.
“Receiving the Zachary T. Smith Leadership Scholarship is something very positive for me to look back on when I think about my time at Wake Forest. It held me accountable, and in turn it helped me continue to build my skills so I could hold others accountable.”
To learn more about other recipients of Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation funded scholarships, click here.