Cathedral Scholars

We each have God-given abilities that need to be nurtured and developed, and education is one of the most powerful ways that we can thrive. The Cathedral Scholars program aims to provide financial, vocational, communal, and spiritual support to members of the Cathedral of St. Philip's community who seek to further their educational goals. The Cathedral's community is far-reaching and includes members of the Cathedral parish, Cathedral staff and their immediate family members, and the larger Cathedral community, including its many parochial entities.

DONATE TO THE CATHEDRAL SCHOLARS FUND

Cathedral Scholars Endowment

Thanks to the generosity of so many parishioners, these young women and men, who otherwise would not be able to attend college, will be attending with the help of a scholarship from the Cathedral. The endowment enables the Cathedral to offer long-term holistic support to these deserving scholars. Your contribution to the Cathedral Scholars Endowment can be matched dollar for dollar and will ensure support for this program for years to come. Please contact David Rocchio, drocchio@cathedralATL.org, to contribute to the Cathedral Scholars Endowment.

What does it mean to be a Cathedral Scholar?

Financial Support: We are accepting requests up to $5,000 per year for tuition, books, required equipment/supplies, and other expenses at an accredited college, university, or trade school, undergraduate or graduate studies. Awards will be paid directly to the designated academic institution. Requests outside this scope may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Vocational, Communal, and Spiritual Support: A supportive community is integral to education success.

Each scholar will have an assigned committee liaison who will be the scholar’s primary contact throughout their educational experience. In addition to providing support and prayers for the scholar, this liaison can connect the scholar with Cathedral parishioners who may serve as vocational resources.
Each summer, the current scholars will gather for an in-person networking event with scholar alumni, the Cathedral Scholars Committee, and supporters of the program.
Scholars are prayed for regularly in the Prayers of the People at the Cathedral.

Application Process

Timeline: Scholarships are awarded annually on a need basis. Applications are accepted year-round, and applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

Annual Funding Beginning with:	Application Deadline:
Summer Semester/Quarter	February 28
Fall Semester/Quarter	April 10
Winter Quarter or Spring Semester/Quarter	September 30

Criteria: All applications will be considered, with preference given to those with direct Cathedral affiliation Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply based on the following criteria:
- Financial need: Combined annual gross income of applicant or the applicant’s parents less than $75,000
- Student character: integrity, responsibility, and kindness
- Academic performance: Include grade point average and rigor of courses
- Extracurricular activities: school, church, community activities and after-school/summer employment
Application: Please note, the following are required to apply or reapply:
- New Student Applicants:
  - Completed new applicants form (see link below)
  - Cover letter composed by the applicant including 250-500 word personal statement (Tell us who you are!)
  - Current school transcript
  - A head shot photo of the applicant
  - One letter of recommendation addressing the applicant’s character

nEW sTUDENT aPPLICANTS - Click Here to Apply

Returning Student Applicants:
- Completed returning applicants form (see link below)
- Short letter (addressed to program donors) reporting on your most recent year
- A copy of your school’s financial aid letter for the upcoming year
- Current School Transcript

Returning Student Applicants - Click Here to Apply

Meet the 2025-2026 Cathedral Scholars

We celebrate the accomplishments and the promise of these students, and we hope you will support them with your prayers. We also hope you will take advantage of next year’s annual summer barbecue to meet these students in person.

Achol Atem

Achol is an immigrant from South Sudan who is currently attending Furman University expecting graduation in 2027. She plans to complete a double major in Computer Science and German, with the goal of working as a software engineer after graduation. She loves meeting new people from different backgrounds, is an avid soccer fan, and enjoys playing the ukulele.

Edith Baños

Edith is attending Kennesaw State University and expects to graduate in 2028. She loves playing softball and is passionate about singing. Her goal is to serve others, either as an EMT or a nurse.

Jelise Bertrand

Jelise is attending Xavier University of Louisiana and expects to graduate in 2028. She plans to study political science and get into a pre-law-school track. She is also interested in studying psychology.

Brianna Burke

Brianna is enrolled at the University of Georgia, where she is pursuing a major in marketing at the Terry college of Business and expects to graduate in 2028. She has also been active with the Foundation for Hospital Art, where she works with others to paint colorful, vibrant canvases that are then donated to children's hospitals/pediatric units in 195 countries

Caitlyn Burke

Caitlyn is a student at Kennesaw State University, where she expects to graduate in 2028.

Ernest Charles, Jr.

‍Ernest is attending Barry University, with plans to study oceanography. He expects to graduate in 2026. He enjoys music and film and intends to combine his interests with marine biology to increase awareness of our aquatic ecosystem.

Natalya Cobb

Natalya is attending Howard University with a passion for helping others. She plans to study finance and hopes for a career as a financial advisor and attorney following her expected graduation in 2027.. In her free time, she loves to choreograph dances and attend dance workshops, reading, and hanging out with family and friends

Juliana Contreras

Juliana is a first-generation college student at the University of Virginia, where she expects to graduate in 2026. Juliana hopes to major in speech communication disorders as her first step toward becoming a speech therapist.

Courtney Craft

Courtney is attending the University of Georgia, where she expects to graduate in 2027. She has always been very involved in sports. Her goal is to eventually achieve a master’s degree in communication and have a career as a political news anchor.

Carolina Diaz

Carolina is attending the Villanova Business School and expects to graduate in 2026 with a major in Marketing. Carolina is a first-generation high school graduate who looks forward to being a first-gen college graduate.

Lindsay Dukes

Lindsay is enrolled at Mercer University and expects to graduate in 2026. She has a love for children and plans to obtain a B.S. Ed. degree in Elementary Education/Special Education – the Holistic Child, with a minor in Spanish.

Christopher Hayes

A Cathedral scholar as an undergraduate at Georgia State University, Christopher is now enrolled at Fordham University School of Law, where he expects to graduate in 2026. He hopes to have a career in public service in his hometown of Atlanta.

Kiera Jones

Kiera is a student at the University of Notre Dame and expects to graduate in 2027. She is majoring in Science Pre-Professional Studies and plans to go to Physical Therapy school after graduation. She is very interested in sports and hopes to become a Sports Physical Therapist in the future, working for the NFL or NBA. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and binge-watching movies.

Tylek Jones

Tylek is enrolled at Savannah State University, where he expects to graduate in 2029. He is majoring in Education and minoring in Elementary Music, with a goal of being an educator after graduation.

Maggie Long

Maggie studied for 3 years at Mercer university before transferring to the University of Georgia, where she expects to graduate in 2026. She is studying marketing. Maggie has been a member of the Cathedral of St. Philip for most of her life.

Aniya Martin

Aniya is enrolled at Howard University and expects to graduate in 2029. Sports have been a big part of her life, especially basketball, a sport in which she excels.

Meilyn Motino

Meilyn is a freshman at Georgia State University, where she plans to study psychology. Her long-range plan is to get her Master’s degree in psychology to become a clinical psychologist.

Daphne Serrato-Perez

Daphne is a student at Kennesaw State University, where she is pursuing a nursing degree and expects to graduate in 2027. She works part-time at Chick-fil-A and is an active member of the Kennesaw Women’s Soccer Club.

Carter Sessions

Carter Sessions is a student at Pace University in New York City, where she is studying Theatre. She expects to graduate in 2026. She recently wrote, directed, designed, and acted in a forty minute piece called “HiberNation,” which offers a commentary on the American dream and how it manifests in people’s lives.

Katrin White

Katrin is a sophomore at the College of the Holy Cross. She has a love for learning, with a passion for physical therapy, and aspires to one day own a physical therapy clinic where she can “merge physical and mental rehabilitation into one, thereby providing holistic reformation of the entire person.”

Marcell Whitfield

Marcell is a student at Virginia Wesleyan university, where he is majoring in accounting and expecting to graduate in 2026. Excelling in sports, he is the starting center fielder and captain of the University’s varsity baseball team.