2025-26 Top Senior Program

Kyla Hudson is the 24-25 Charlotte Post Foundation's Top Senior Winner! She graduated from Mallard Creek High School this June and will attend North Carolina A&T this fall, where she hopes to major in chemical engineering.	Ajae Purnell is the Charlotte Post Foundation's 24-25 Top Senior Runner-up! Ajae attended Cato Middle College High School, where she graduated with a 4.6 weighted gpa. She will attend Wake Forest University.

The Top Senior program is back for the 2025-26 school year and ready for another class of exceptional  students! We would like to congratulate all the seniors in CMS for maintaining their focus and making it to the final stretch of high school education. This is not an accomplishment that should be taken lightly but it doesn't stops here! Senior year is a time to go after that GPA or start a routine that will get you ready for post-secondary life. The Charlotte Post Foundation would like to make the transition easier by offering a pair of scholarships to students who our judges deem the top 2 seniors in CMS!  We will update this page when we know the exact dollar amount for the two scholarships. These scholarships were created to recognize African American students who are excelling in school as well as aid in the transition to life after high school. 

Student Eligibility Requirements:

1. Must be African-American

2. Must have a 3.25 or higher cumulative grade point average (weighted)

3. Must attend a high school in the Charlotte Mecklenburg School system

The portal for the 25-26 Top Senior submissions will open November 1st and close January 31st. If you, or your child, fits the criteria to be a Top Senior please fill out this form https://form.jotform.com/252964627059165

What do we need from the students?

Students looking to submit an application for the Top Senior Program are asked to fill out the form above and complete the essay required for the judging. The essay is a critical piece of the judging, along with the student's extracurriculars and GPA. Students will be expected to give the Top Senior Parent Letter to their parent(s)/guardian(s) so that they can be involved in the process. Please make sure all information is accurate because we may need to reach out for updated pictures or other information. 

What should parents expect?

The Charlotte Post Foundation is proud to recognize and celebrate outstanding African American scholars within Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS). Once the deadline passes for application submissions, members of The Charlotte Post will reach out using the provided contact information to invite them to participate in the Top Senior Magazine and attend the Top Senior Recognition Ceremony. To help families learn more, we will also host a virtual information session via Zoom for parents and students. This session will introduce The Charlotte Post Foundation, highlight the Top Senior Program, and share the positive community impact of these events. Your child should receive a parent letter that will include more details about this year's campaign and provide links to past events and magazines. If you did not receive this letter, you can find the letter here: 2025-26 Parent letter. 

Our students embody the promise and potential of our future, and we are honored to celebrate their academic excellence and leadership across the community!

For additional information contact Linda Johnson at linda.lanel@thecharlottepost.com,(704) 376-0498, Andre Johnson at andre.johnson@thecharlottepost.com, (704) 376-4096 Ext. 102.