As a junior in 20/20 Leadership, Brandon Birch
earned the Above and Beyond Award, an honor bestowed upon students whose
participation in the program goes beyond expectations. This year, he was selected as a recipient of
the Great Achiever Scholarship because of his continued contributions to the
program and was excited to learn that a $1,000 scholarship came along with this
honor. Two weeks later, he was shocked
to learn that he was being named an MLB-KC Royals Scholar and earning a $10,000
scholarship. "It let me know that my hard work was not in vain," he
said.
earned the Above and Beyond Award, an honor bestowed upon students whose
participation in the program goes beyond expectations. This year, he was selected as a recipient of
the Great Achiever Scholarship because of his continued contributions to the
program and was excited to learn that a $1,000 scholarship came along with this
honor. Two weeks later, he was shocked
to learn that he was being named an MLB-KC Royals Scholar and earning a $10,000
scholarship. "It let me know that my hard work was not in vain," he
said.
Brandon admits that he did not always take school
seriously. As a 5th grader,
he transferred from Kansas City Christian, a private school to Wendell Phillips
Elementary School in the Kansas City Public School District. Around the same time, he was also diagnosed
with vitiligo, a disease that impacts skin pigmentation. “I used to hope that people didn’t notice,
but I do believe it helped me grow into the person I am today,” he said.
seriously. As a 5th grader,
he transferred from Kansas City Christian, a private school to Wendell Phillips
Elementary School in the Kansas City Public School District. Around the same time, he was also diagnosed
with vitiligo, a disease that impacts skin pigmentation. “I used to hope that people didn’t notice,
but I do believe it helped me grow into the person I am today,” he said.
The confidence Brandon developed over time is
something that he wanted other students at his beloved Northeast High School to
experience. He noticed that his
classmates walked around with their heads down and he felt it was his job to
remind them of their importance and self-worth.
Brandon led 20/20 Leadership students in the development of “I Am Me,”
their 20/20 Olympics project focused on helping students find confidence and
build self-esteem.
something that he wanted other students at his beloved Northeast High School to
experience. He noticed that his
classmates walked around with their heads down and he felt it was his job to
remind them of their importance and self-worth.
Brandon led 20/20 Leadership students in the development of “I Am Me,”
their 20/20 Olympics project focused on helping students find confidence and
build self-esteem.
Brandon continues to build his confidence and
skills through his involvement in 20/20 Leadership and service as class
president. He is also a member of the
Kansas City Boys Choir, as well as a choir director and pianist at his church.
Brandon will continue his passion for music as a field of study this fall at
Lincoln University. Although he cites both anxiety and excitement about the
next chapter, Brandon will spend the summer at Lincoln participating in the
bridge program designed to ease the transition from the high school to
undergraduate level.
skills through his involvement in 20/20 Leadership and service as class
president. He is also a member of the
Kansas City Boys Choir, as well as a choir director and pianist at his church.
Brandon will continue his passion for music as a field of study this fall at
Lincoln University. Although he cites both anxiety and excitement about the
next chapter, Brandon will spend the summer at Lincoln participating in the
bridge program designed to ease the transition from the high school to
undergraduate level.
Brandon will be the first in his family to attend
college and aims to return to the halls of Northeast after graduation to
teach.
college and aims to return to the halls of Northeast after graduation to
teach.
The KC Royals scholarship is made possible by a generous donation from the Kansas City Royals and Royals Charities. Participants in 20/20 Leadership are eligible to apply for the scholarship.