Brooklyn Center Student Receives Griffin-McNeal Legacy Scholarship
A recent Brooklyn Center High School graduate will have a few thousand dollars in her pocket to help pay for college. Shir’Rima Dixon says because of COVID-19 and family situations, she wasn’t sure she’d even graduate. However, she beat the odds.
Monday, she was awarded the Anaja Griffin-McNeal scholarship, which honors the 2020 Brooklyn Center graduate. Griffin-McNeal was fatally shot while away at college in Texas. Her father, Andre McNeal, says although the shooting happened last year, he is constantly reminded of his daughter.
“Every time there’s a song that comes on, there’s a place that I visit, there’s a memory that pops up that just instantly impacts me and our family,” McNeal said with tears in his eyes.
Brooklyn Center graduate Shir’Rima Dixon received the Anaja Griffin-McNeal scholarship on Monday. Anaja’s father Andre McNeal presented the award.
Brooklyn Center Grad Beats The Odds
Dixon says she’s grateful to share in Griffin-McNeal’s legacy. The scholar maintained her top GPA, graduated, and got accepted at Kentucky State University, all while taking care of her mom and two siblings who have medical conditions.
“It’s been a lot, but I’ve been used to it. Because I’ve been taking care of my big brother because he has epilepsy for a majority of my life, also my little sister has epilepsy,” explained Dixon.
She is the first in her family to attend college and says the funds will help ease some of her financial burdens.
“I’m very excited, even though it’s going to be a big jump because I’m going to be the only one there, and it’s going to be a new environment, but I feel like I’ll fight through it,” said the recent Brooklyn Center graduate.
Brooklyn Center High School
