Shahkila Daniels is excited about baton twirling, and so much more. The teachers at Canton McKinley High School and the other adults in her life are excited about Shahkila’s accomplishment in the quest for a prestigious national scholarship.

One thousand high school students in the United States were selected this spring for a Gates Millennium Scholarship. Shahkila Daniels of Canton McKinley High is one of them, and one of only 14 from Ohio. “I don’t think she realizes how big this is,” said Anita Robinson-Muhammad, Shahkila’s mother. And how big is big? When Shahkila goes off to Penn State University late this summer, she will start on a college education that will be paid in full by the Gates Millennium program.

“It’s like she hit the lottery,” Mrs. Robinson-Muhammad said.

Gates Millennium Scholarship

The Gates Millennium Scholars Program is the largest minority scholarship program in the nation. It is made possible by a $1.6 billion grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. To date, more than 13,000 students have been aided in their college educations through the Gates Millennium program.

The program is open to students who are African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian and Pacific Islander American, or Hispanic American, who maintain consistently high grades and who demonstrate leadership in community service and extracurricular activities.

Shahkila, an only child, is described by her mother as “overly humble.” For her part, Shahkila is excited about Penn State because, “I’m going to twirl with the kids I want to twirl with.” And that would be with the Penn State Marching Band.

She has been a three-year featured baton twirler with the McKinley High School Marching Band as well as a 10-year member of the Jazz Dolls National and Grand National Baton Twirling Corps. Through this association, she has won several regional and national awards. She also has been a member of Michelle’s School of Dance since age 3.

And if that weren’t enough, her other activities include the McKinley High School Concert Band, Senior Class president, multiple-year Academic Letter Award winner, National Honor Society, Canton Scholars, the Mock Trial Team, Teen Court, and the list goes on and on.

As for academics at Penn State, she plans to begin degree work toward becoming a veterinarian. “I would like to establish a veterinary hospital specializing in animal wellness, and internal medicine.”

And then there is the additional thought about law school. “I plan to practice as a sports attorney in the fields of contract negotiation, and capital investments.”

If all of this leads to the kinds of success that it could, Shahkila sees herself as a scholarship donor, “to help students like myself obtain the funds needed to reach their educational goals.”