Foot Soldiers Park Awards First Jo Ann Bland Civil Rights Legacy Scholarships to Local Students

Foot Soldiers Park has awarded its inaugural Jo Ann Bland Civil Rights Legacy Scholarships to two Selma-area students: Jo’Darius (JD) Hamilton and Rachel Curtis. This scholarship specifically honors students who are descendants of foot soldiers and who demonstrate civic commitment, academic excellence, and leadership aligned with the organization’s mission.

The awards were presented during a ceremony at the Foot Soldiers Park administrative suites on July 16. Founding partners CEO Kimberly Smitherman and civil rights icon Jo Ann Bland presented the scholarships in front of an audience of family members, staff, and community supporters.

Jo’Darius (JD) Hamilton

JD Hamilton, a graduate of Southside High School, will be attending Auburn University in the fall, in the Building Science program, entering the professional track in Construction Management. JD is the grandson of foot soldier Albert Southall Sr., the founder of Southall’s African American Literary and Arts Museum and Gallery inSelma. JD graduated with a 3.52 GPA, with courses in economics, government, writing, and STEM. He is also active in civic and community initiatives that build on his family’s legacy.

“It made me feel truly special to be one of the first two recipients. I’m grateful to the foot soldiers, and I just want to say thank you. What they did was so honorable, and I just feel very special,” JD told Foot Soldiers Park staff.

Rachel Curtis

Rachel Curtis graduated from Selma High School and will be attending Tuskegee University in the fall. Rachel is the granddaughter and great-granddaughter of foot soldiers, all of whom participated in 1965 civil rights marches. Her grandmother Rachel West Milhouse was the co-author of Selma, Lord, Selma, a first-hand account of civil rights marches of 1965. Her great-grandfather was Lonzy West, Sr. and her great-grandmother was the late Alice Martin West, a well-known Selma activist who helped more than 300 Black people register to vote by preparing them to pass the literacy test requirement at the time. Rachel completed a dual enrollment program with Wallace Community College and graduated with over 30 earned credits and a cumulative GPA of 3.21. Her studies included business finance, health sciences, and economics.

“I am appreciative and want to thank the foot soldiers. They’ve taught me that hard work and dedication pay off in the long run. Knowing that more scholars will be blessed with this scholarship after me makes me happy and it inspires me,” said Rachel.

Each recipient received a $2,000 scholarship and a commemorative photo with Ms. Bland. The award serves as a symbolic bridge between generations, honoring the legacy of civil rights activism while supporting the educational futures of today’s youth.

“These kids are so deserving. They’re the ones who are going to make a difference. I want them to remember the legacy of the people they represent, whose blood runs through their veins, the foot soldiers. They are the foot soldiers of today, and I’m incredibly proud and honored that they are our first recipients,” said Ms. Bland.

About the Scholarship

The Jo Ann Bland Civil Rights Legacy Scholarship is awarded to descendants of foot soldiers from Selma’s civil rights movement. The scholarship supports youth who embody the courage, vision, and civic spirit of the movement’s pioneers. Recipients are selected through an open application and review process.

This year marks the first iteration of what will become an annual scholarship opportunity. Foot Soldiers Park plans to expand the fund and support more students in Dallas County and beyond in the years to come.

“I’m super excited that we were able to give two scholarships to two very deserving residents and students here in Selma. I think that this is a step forward for our community in supporting our youth because we know the youth are our future. And this is just the beginning. We will continue to grow the amount of scholarships we give and the amount of funding that we give and we hope that we can get support from the community, from people all around the world so that we can do that for our youth.” – Kimberly Smitherman

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