DEAN'S LIST AWARD IN HONOR OF CHESLIE C. KRYST
Cheslie C. Kryst was an extraordinary human being, a friend to all, a beloved sister & daughter, and cherished mentor. She had roots in the Carolinas as she went to high school in Fort Mill, SC, graduated from the Honors College at University of South Carolina. She attended the Darla Moore School of Business while at the university where she double majored in marketing and HR management. She also got a Juris Doctor and MBA from Wake Forest University School of Law in Winston-Salem, NC. She also was an accomplished civil litigation attorney, Miss North Carolina USA 2019, Miss USA 2019, advocate for criminal justice reform, two-time Emmy nominated Extra-TV correspondent + inspired every person who ever crossed her path.
We are so grateful to have had Cheslie as a huge part of our community - especially as our first-ever “TGIM” guest speaker and on our “How To Land Your Dream Job in Entertainment” & "How to Land Your Dream Title" Zoom panels in the height of the pandemic.
She will be greatly missed and we hope that this award for Black women in media will continue her legacy of being a light for others. Applications will be accepted starting on her birthday April 28, 2022 to help a young Black woman based in North or South Carolina to help her pursue a career in media + journalism.
Award recipient requirements:
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Black woman based in (or from) North or South Carolina
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College student at an accredited university or recent graduate
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Pursuing a career in media or journalism
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Commitment to making a long-term positive impact in the community.
UPCOMING DATES:
Deadline | Applications Accepted on Rolling Basis
Award Presented | Every December at 20 Under 20 Awards
2/2/22 6:00p: A statement that was just released from Cheslie’s mother that any donations are now to go to @dressforsuccess, an organization close to Cheslie's heart. The $600 donated so far (before the statement) will go to our award in honor of Cheslie Kryst for a Black woman pursuing a career in journalism/media. We will let you know if we open up the opportunity later for donations once we have spoken with her mother. Applications will open on her birthday April 28 and the recipient will be announced at our awards ceremony in December.
2/17/22 6:00p: Cheslie's family has endorsed this scholarship along with 2 other scholarships that will carry on her legacy. Donations have opened back up. The recipient will be announced at our awards ceremony in December 2022.
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4/26/22 9:00a: After speaking with Cheslie's mother, April, we will not be opening applications until later for our Dean's List Award in Cheslie's honor (no longer called a scholarship) for a young Black Woman in Media to focus on the family's special plans for her birthday. The vigil and balloon release will take place on April 28th at Fort Mill High School at 7:00p.
4/26/22 9:00a: After speaking with Cheslie's mother, April, we will not be opening applications until later for our Dean's List Award in Cheslie's honor (no longer called a scholarship) for a young Black Woman in Media to focus on the family's special plans for her birthday. The vigil and balloon release will take place on April 28th at Fort Mill High School at 7:00p.
5/1/23: Charlotte Brunch Festival announced that the Black Woman In Media Award will be one of their chosen places for a portion of proceeds to go from ticket sales. The 2023 donor will receive $600.
12/1/22: The 2022 recipient of the award is Destiny Kennedy, a student graduating in 2023 from The University of South Carolina! She is receiving the award at Wray Ward on 12/5/22 during the 20 Under 20 Awards.
2024
RECIPIENT
MORGAN
WINSTON
Morgan Winston is a junior in the IB Diploma program at East Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte, NC, with a 4.3 weighted GPA. She is active in many extracurricular activities, including being a member of the National Honor Society and Student Congress, and serving as the social media manager for the Diversity Club. Morgan is co-captain of the girls’ varsity basketball team and enjoys playing tennis. Outside of school, she represents students in the Dudley Flood Center for Educational Equity and Opportunity’s Student Voices Program, advocating for educational equity. She interned with TurnUp Activism in summer 2024 to promote youth civic engagement.
An ambassador-level Girl Scout, Morgan and a fellow Girl Scout organized a bench dedication for Civil Rights pioneer Dorothy Counts-Scoggins in 2019, and in 2022 co-created a documentary on Charlotte’s Black history, in partnership with The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts and Culture. They presented the documentary at the Color of Education Summit at North Carolina State University in October 2023 and Western Carolina University’s Equity Summit in February 2024. These projects earned Morgan and Maya their Bronze and Silver awards, respectively. They spoke in March 2024 at the #DefendBlackHistory Summit, where they received the Defending Black History Award from the Color of Change and National Education Association.
After high school, Morgan plans to study political science, attend law school and pursue a career in politics, with the goal of becoming a U.S. senator. She is passionate about social justice and African-American history and has led initiatives to highlight Black excellence at her middle school.
In addition to her academic and extracurricular work, Morgan enjoys playing the piano, thrifting, and is a member of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, where she was recently baptized.
2023
RECIPIENT
MARKAYLA
MCINNIS
Markayla McInnis is a recent December 2023 graduate from East Carolina University where she majored in Communications; Journalism and minored in Sports Studies. McInnis has been involved in media since High School where she found herself involved in School Yearbook capturing moments and telling stories. Her love for journalism continued on throughout her three and a half years in college where she was apart of her universities newspaper “The East Carolinian” where she held various Editorial roles and received many honors. McInnis wants to continue her journalistic talents in the sports industry where she intends to be a Communications Representative for a professional sports team or league. Being an African American in both the Communications Field and Sports Industry, is so important for McInnis as she believes having a Black woman in part of the decision-making can open industry doors for generations to come. McInnis would like to thank everyone who had a hand in the decision-making process for this award and is honored to carry on Cheslie’s legacy.
2022 RECIPIENT
DESTINY
KENNEDY
Destiny Kennedy is majoring in Broadcast Journalist and minoring in Film and Media at the University of South Carolina. Her love for storytelling began with her acting career when she starred as the victim in an episode of the true crime show "In Ice Cold Blood" on Oxygen. Destiny believes storytelling, whether on the news or through film, reminds us that we are not alone. As an African American and Latina woman in Journalism, she has made it her mission to help tell the stories of those who are underrepresented and misrepresented. Before attending University of South Carolina, she received her Associate in Paralegal Studies at Midlands Technical College. She prides herself in being a woman who wears many hats. Her motto in life is that the limit does not exist!
DONOR LIST
Thank you to our generous donors who loved Cheslie and knew the impact she made on the world:
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Mackenzie Clark: Orlando, FL
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Kerry Winslow: Charlotte, NC
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Laura Saavedra-Forero: Charlotte, NC
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Caroline Hennessey: Atlanta, GA
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Kylee Russell: Charlotte, NC
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Kelly Venable: Charlotte, NC
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Ty M Carolina: Charlotte, NC
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CLT Brunch Festival: Proceeds from their events in Charlotte
MONETARY SPONSOR
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DRESS SPONSOR
