Sometimes, by doing the ordinary, people have extraordinary impact on others. The most recent winners of the Regions Riding Forward® Scholarship Contest highlight those inspiring stories about the people who have helped motivate them toward achieving their goals.
Regions is awarding four scholarship prizes for each quarter of the calendar year, and each winning student will receive a check in the amount of $8,000 made out to their designated accredited college.
The Regions Riding Forward Scholarship Contest provides opportunities for students to help them further their education. For the 2025 contest, eligible high school and college students were asked to submit a video essay or traditional written essay on someone they know in their community who has inspired them and helped them build the confidence to achieve their goals.
- The Regions Riding Forward Scholarship Contest consists of four (4) separate quarterly contests.
- For each quarterly contest, eligible entries are grouped according to form of entry (written essay or video essay) and judged by a panel of independent, qualified judges.
- A total of four (4) quarterly contest scholarship prizes are awarded in each quarterly contest, consisting of two (2) prizes for the written essay group and two (2) prizes for the video essay group.
- Regions promotes the scholarship contest throughout the year and students may submit an entry in each quarterly contest.
Regions Riding Forward
Third Quarter 2025 Scholarship Contest Winners
Contest winners from the third quarter of 2025 and the individuals they highlighted in their award-winning submissions include (follow links to read/watch their submissions):
- Ryleigh McCree – Andre McCree (Ryleigh’s father) is a pillar of strength, dedication, and service. Despite early challenges, he built a life rooted in family and community. Working two full-time jobs while remaining an engaged parent, he exemplifies perseverance and selflessness. His volunteer work with youth sports, Habitat for Humanity and local initiatives reflects his commitment to lifting others. A U.S. Army veteran and entrepreneur, he inspires through resilience, leadership and an unwavering belief in creating opportunities for others.
- Janiya Jefferson – Tonya Pierce, an Information Technology professor at Illinois State University, has profoundly impacted her students through her dedication and encouragement. Known for her honesty about challenges in programming courses, she inspires perseverance and resilience. Her guidance emphasizes learning through trial and error, fostering confidence in aspiring IT professionals. Beyond teaching technical skills, Tonya instills a mindset of growth and determination, leaving a lasting influence on students’ academic and personal journeys.
- Brian McDonald – Malcolm Robinson, a flight instructor from Atlanta, played a pivotal role in shaping the aviation journey of aspiring pilots, including Brian. Through his guidance, students progress from complete beginners to confident solo flyers. His core principle — consistency — extends beyond aviation, emphasizing discipline in all aspects of life. Malcolm’s mentorship instills perseverance, technical skill and personal growth, leaving a lasting impact on those he teaches and inspiring them to achieve their goals both in and out of the cockpit.
- Laila Smallwood – Danielle Smallwood (Laila’s mother) exemplifies resilience, faith and determination. From childhood hardships, including living in a homeless shelter, she held onto hope and built a life of stability and purpose. Through hard work and sacrifice, she supported her family while pursuing creative passions, eventually teaching graphic design and photography. Her unwavering strength and encouragement inspire Layla to dream boldly and pursue event design, proving that perseverance and faith can transform any circumstance.
Want More Information on Regions Riding Forward?
To learn more about the Riding Forward Scholarship, visit www.regions.com/ridingforward.
See full contest rules for complete details, including eligibility and written essay and video essay requirements.
See a list of previous winners and their winning submissions on Doing More Today.
If you know of a young person – in college or headed that way – please share this information with them and with the guidance counselor at their school.
The Regions Riding Forward Scholarship contest has awarded over $1.5 million in educational assistance to more than 400 students over the past 13 years.