Ballard High School, High School Diploma, Accounting

Curtis played and has been around sports my whole entire life playing baseball, basketball, running track, and bowling.

Achievements: 

• Curtis has been the Treasurer for the Ward, Trowell and Drinkard Program for Excellence since 2016. 
• Curtis was accepted at the University of Louisville August 2021 as well as accepted into the Honors Program. 
• Curtis has already obtained 15 credit hours before the Fall Semester. 
• Scholarships were obtained through Woodford R. Porter, The Lincoln Foundation Alumni, and Whitney M. Young Scholars Program.

Future Plans: Attend the University of Louisville to get a bachelor's degree and become a Certified Public Accountant

"Thank you for treating me like family every time I attended service and also to all the people that have helped me in my life not just in church." 

-Curtis Banks III

Seneca High School, High School Diploma

Achievements: Prepared and resilient learner, passed NOTCI exam for nursing school

Future Plans: Taking a year off to work and then will attend cosmetology school for hair and makeup.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, PhD, Electrical and Computer Engineering

Achievements: 

• National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow
• Harold Olesen Undergraduate Teaching Award
• SURGE Fellow
• GIANT Grant recipient (for RISE UP @ Illinois Program)
• Nokia Sensing XChallenge recipient
• Campus Impact Award
• Completion of Master's degree and PhD

Future Plans: Work for Intel in California

"Many thanks to God, my family, and Green Castle church family for your unending support!" - Lonna Edwards

Brown University, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology

Future Plans: Intern with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and then attend graduate school for a master's in Clinical Psychology.

"I want to thank the entire GCBC family for their support throughout my college career. I am blessed to have had a church home that has truly helped to shape me into the man I am today." 

- Alexander Wilson

Ballard High School, High School Diploma

Achievements: 

• Ballard Concert Orchestra 2018-2019 – 9th grade
• Ballard Chamber Orchestra 2019-Present - 10th-12th grade
• 10th-grade KMEA Solo and Ensemble distinguished
• Valedictorian
• AB Honor Roll
• Beta Club
• Black Student Union
• National Honor Society
• R.O.C.K. Choir Vice President, 2021 and President in 2022
• Tri-M Music Honors Society
• Bellarmine Book Award
• Woodford R. Porter Scholarship

Future Plans: Accepted to attend the University of Louisville Honors Program to pursue a BA in Biochemistry.

"Thank you for all of your prayers throughout challenging moments in my life. Please continue to pray for me and my strength as I enter this next chapter of my life." -Kristen Overton

University of Louisville, Master of Engineering, Engineering Management

Richard Wilson, II is currently a Technical Program Manager at Meta (formerly Facebook). Before starting at Meta, Richard was the co-founder of his first tech startup called Happnin, which was a location-based social media platform geared towards in-person events. He has completed programs with Harvard Business School and has several fellowship and externship experiences with The Takeoff Institute (inaugural class), Ripple Ventures, Paragon One (venture-backed startup), and the National Venture Capital Association. Additionally, he has obtained several internships/ co-ops in Industrial Engineering with UPS Supply Chain Solutions, UPS Airlines, and GE Appliances. Richard graduated from the University of Louisville with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering in 2021 and a Master of Engineering in Engineering Management in 2022, where he received the Woodford R. Porter Scholarship (full-ride, merit-based scholarship), co-founded the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Council, and served on the executive boards for the National Society of Black Engineers and Speed School Student Council. He is the proud older brother of Regis Wilson, who is an Internal Audit Cybersecurity Summer Analyst at J.P. Morgan. He is originally from Louisville, KY.

Achievements: Dean's Scholar, Co-founder of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Council, Investment Associate at the University of Louisville's Office of Research and Innovation, AfroTech Corporate Scholarship Recipient, Woodford R. Porter Scholar, Featured in Forbes article, and Featured in University of Speed School publication.

Future Plans: After graduation, I will continue to work as a Technical Program Manager at Meta (formerly known as Facebook) in the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition to this, I will be looking for scouting opportunities to work at venture capital investment firms located throughout the country. I'm seeking to use this time to develop inroads and relationships for me to pursue entrepreneurship and be a startup founder.

"Thank you so much to my GCBC family for providing support and guidance throughout my life, especially as I have recently made this move across the country. With the support of my parents, brother, GCBC family, and friends, leaving home has become an easier adjustment to make. I'm grateful that God has truly provided guidance and direction, especially when the path did not seem clear. I am so excited to see you all again soon!" 

-Richard Wilson, II

Ballard High School, High School Diploma

Achievements: Devin is a member of the R.O.C.K choir here at Green Castle and a former Whitney M. Young Scholar and is also part of Sanders Trowel and Ward Center for Excellence.

Future Plans: Devin plans to attend Western Kentucky University in the fall and plans to earn a major in Business Economics while earning his MBA. Following his education, he plans to become a real estate investor, influencer, and businessman that offers many talents.

"All glory to God." -Devin Swift

DuPont Manual High School, High School Diploma, Honors & College Prep Program

Achievements: 

• Maintained honor roll all 4 years
• English 4 Departmental Award
• Various football recognitions, and awards, All district team

Future Plans: I will be attending West Virginia State University, majoring in business and playing college football.

"Green Castle thank you for being a nurturing and supportive church family. I will always cherish the lessons and experiences I had growing up in the Rays of Hope ministry as well as the relevant bible study lessons in Rev Lacy's Wednesday night bible study class. I know that God has a purpose and a plan for my life. Please keep me in your prayers." 

-Gilbert Robbins

Davidson College, Bachelor of Science, Psychology

Achievements:

• Conducted studies on the relationship between child attachment style and motor activity in local childcare settings.
• Conducted studies on the influence of structured vs. unstructured digital play on college students. 
• Created and edited several Wikipedia articles on influential Black psychologists. 
• Created lectures for local high school faculty and staff on the psychological benefits of creating affirming environments for marginalized students. 
• Co-created a mentorship program for students of color in the psychology department at Davidson.

Future Plans: Will work to expand knowledge of cybersecurity and cyber threats under the Cybersecurity Fellowship at Davidson.

"Thank you to everyone that supported me on my journey to where I am now. I am very grateful." -Amaya Bradford

The University of Notre Dame, Bachelor of Arts, Industrial Design

I graduated with my B.A. in Industrial Design In May 2022. I am currently working on my Master's in Science Management, and playing football for the University of Notre Dame. I graduated from South Warren High School in Bowling Green, KY. I joined Green Castle at an early age and participated in the Rays of Hope Ministry.

Achievements: Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Academic Honor Roll

Future Plans: Pursuing a Master's in Science Management and playing football for the University of Notre Dame.

"I want to thank my church family for your prayers and support over the years. I greatly appreciate it!"

University of Louisville, Masters Degree, Teaching Early Elementary Education

Achievements: MTRP Scholar, received A’s

Future Plans: Obtain a teaching position with Jefferson County Public Schools

"Thank you for your prayers and support throughout this process." -Kam Jones