Khary McAlpin Wins 2024 John Foy Strong Arm Leukemia Scholarship

Our team at John Foy & Associates recognizes the challenges faced by leukemia patients and their family members and strives to help students in this situation pursue their academic goals. As part of our efforts, we’re proud to announce Khary McAlpin as the winner of the 2024 John Foy “Strong Arm” Leukemia Scholarship. 

We developed The John Foy & Associates Strong Arm Leukemia Scholarship in 2015. We chose this year’s winner due to his dedication to pursuing his educational goals while faced with the tremendous challenges associated with a leukemia diagnosis. 

A Focus on Education After a Leukemia Diagnosis

Khary McAlpin received a leukemia diagnosis at the age of 12 in 2018, right before 7th grade. Leukemia can cause the body to produce abnormal white blood cells in excessive amounts. These cells do not function properly, and early symptoms often resemble those of the flu. 

McAlpin had to live in the hospital while receiving treatment for this severe illness. He surprised his doctors and nurses by immediately asking about his schooling when getting the news about his hospital stay. 

He used his computer to complete all of his assignments and transitioned back to the classroom after beating cancer, only to face additional challenges, including those associated with the global outbreak of COVID-19.

Help from Medical Professionals and Teachers

During his treatment for leukemia, McAlpin received support that helped him keep up with his educational goals. His medical team provided consistent encouragement every step of the way while also focusing on his treatment. 

His teachers also provided leniency with assignments because they understood his medical circumstances. McAlpin prioritized his schooling throughout his time in the hospital and focused on completing all of his work to avoid getting held back a year. 

New Challenges After Recovering from Leukemia

McAlpin faced additional challenges after his recovery from leukemia and returned to in-person school. “I had trouble fostering new friendships and felt uncomfortable going to school without my head being covered,” he stated in his scholarship essay. 

However, he went on to say, “I realized that all the negative opinions others had to say about me were irrelevant and began to embrace who I was inside and out, symbolically enlightening the world that I had won the most challenging battle of all time by ceasing to wear the hat that always kept me in my comfort zone.”

He turned his strength and determination to address these challenges, including those posed by the outbreak of COVID-19, and continued to pursue academic excellence.  

Work for the Community After Recovery from Leukemia

McAlpin found many ways to serve his community during high school. 

Serving as an Ambassador for the Young Black Leadership Alliance 

McAlpin strove to make a positive impact on the local and international community through the Young Black Leadership Alliance (YBLA). He participated in a service abroad trip to Belize, where he:

• Assisted with building a home for a family that lost their residence in a hurricane 
• Built a computer lab at a local church 
• Donated new shoes to children 

In his local community, McAlpin and five other high school juniors ran a toy drive for an elementary school. The project allowed them to collect $1,000 worth of toys.

Founding the “Blessings in a Bag Community Initiative”

McAlpin contributed to the founding of the “Blessings in Bag Community Initiative” for his local area. The initiative involved creating care packers for the unhoused. These packages contained essential comfort and hygiene products. 

The project resulted in the distribution of 320 care packages. 

Current Studies and Goals for the Future

McAlpin attends Morehouse College and majors in computer science with an additional focus on sociology and the study of the African diaspora. 

After graduation, McAlpin plans to secure a job in cybersecurity and attend Howard Law School. He also wants to work as a real estate attorney and focus on investment. 

Khary McAlpin won the 2024 John Foy “Strong Arm” Leukemia Scholarship and can utilize the scholarship to further his educational goals.  

Learn About the John Foy & Associates “Strong Arm” Leukemia Scholarship

Students either directly or indirectly affected by a diagnosis of leukemia can apply to the John Foy & Associates “Strong Arm” Leukemia Scholarship on a yearly basis. The firm offers this scholarship in the hopes of assisting students who want to pursue their long-term educational goals in the face of this health challenge. 

Students who want to apply for future scholarships can begin preparations at any time. The scholarship requires a 500 to 1,000-word essay or a two to three-minute video.  The video or essay must fit topics dictated by the scholarship application. 

Students must also include a paragraph about how they’d benefit from the scholarship. The scholarship can provide $1,000 to an undergraduate student who meets all application requirements. 

John Foy & Associates Congratulates Khary McAlpin 

Our legal team would like to recognize Khary McAlpin for winning the 2024 John Foy “Strong Arm” Leukemia Scholarship. We take pride in supporting our community and students who strive for academic excellence, regardless of the challenges they face. 

You can learn more about us and the scholarships we offer through our website.