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Kenya King
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Public Relations and Marketing Communications
Perimeter College
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DECATUR, Ga. — When a friend told Daniel Smith’s mom about the State Farm Scholars program, she knew it was a golden opportunity. Smith applied for the scholarship and to Georgia State University’s Perimeter College right away and heard back regarding both applications quickly. He would be going to Perimeter’s Decatur Campus with the State Farm scholarship.
Smith graduated from Druid Hills High School in DeKalb County, Ga., in spring 2023 and started attending Perimeter in the summer of the same year. One of five State Farm Scholars graduating this May, Smith is thankful for his time at Perimeter.
“I’m very thankful to have gone to Perimeter because the strong community made it easier to focus on my objectives, the supportive atmosphere helped me to grow and thrive, and it gave me the self-confidence and foundation that I needed to discover my professional path,” Smith said.
Smith, 19, enjoyed engineering challenges in middle and high school and intended to pursue the subject at Perimeter, but ultimately decided it wasn’t quite the right direction for himself. As he pivoted, he was able to take inspiration from a personal interest, plus knowledge he gleaned while working on campus through his State Farm scholarship.
Smith loves sports. He played on his high school’s football team and played recreational baseball and basketball. He still enjoys playing for fun, especially basketball.
As part of his State Farm scholarship, Smith worked as a student assistant for campus Career Services both his first and second years. He helped students with resume and cover letter writing. He also helped them find on- and off-campus employment by determining the jobs that best fit within their field. Through helping others determine their path, a new path became apparent to Smith as he learned more and more about what Perimeter has to offer.
Switching his scientific mind in another direction that included his love of sports, Smith decided to pursue the Kinesiology and Health – Exercise Science Pathway at Perimeter. He’s happy to have found this option because it allows him to pick a career where he can be involved with sports even if he doesn’t play as much as he did in high school.
Through the on-campus job he has through the scholarship program, Smith has also been able to learn about philanthropy and grants that are offered by different companies. And he’s mentored new State Farm Scholars by working with high school students from Gwinnett County, DeKalb County and Atlanta Public Schools who are headed to Perimeter.
Smith is graduating from Perimeter this spring and is excited to start attending Georgia State University’s downtown Atlanta Campus in the fall to continue studying exercise science. He’s already enjoyed experiencing the larger university by attending the annual Spring Carnival and some football games this year.
“Having the State Farm scholarship has been a huge blessing,” Smith said, “because it helped relieve the financial stress of college and allowed me to focus more on my education and goals.”
The State Farm Scholars program was introduced at Perimeter College in 2017. Each year, Georgia State University aims to award up to 40 State Farm scholarships, primarily targeting students from DeKalb County high schools.
State Farm Scholars receive a need-based scholarship package of up to $4,000 each year, which covers their tuition and fees as full-time students. Additionally, they receive leadership training throughout the year, including opportunities for professional development and workshops on money management, résumé writing, job interviews and more. They also get valuable job experience by mentoring local high school students or working to support student success at Perimeter College. State Farm Scholars benefit from personalized support, guidance and academic advisement.
Once students graduate from Perimeter College with their associate degree, they can apply for the State Farm Transition Scholarship for their two years at Georgia State University’s downtown Atlanta Campus, where they will earn their bachelor’s degree.
— Story by Christy Petterson
— Photo by Bill Roa