Kendra Smith Scholarship Program

Empowering Future Healthcare Leaders through the Kendra Smith Scholarship

The First Nation Group Foundation is honored to continue the legacy of Kendra Tennille Rayner Smith through the Kendra Smith Scholarship, a renewable $10,000 award supporting exceptional high school seniors pursuing careers in healthcare.

Created in memory of Kendra, a beloved First Nation Group employee, licensed Respiratory Therapist, and passionate advocate for service through healthcare, this scholarship reflects her unwavering commitment to education and serving our nation’s heroes. Her legacy lives on through the students who will shape the future of healthcare with the same caring hands and committed heart she brought to every interaction.

About the Kendra Smith Scholarship

Established in 2023, the Kendra Smith Scholarship is awarded annually to an outstanding high school senior who leads by example and embodies The First Nation Group Foundation’s values of integrity, service, and being a force for good. The scholarship aims to provide high school graduates pursuing a career in healthcare with opportunities for personal, professional, and economic growth.

Each year, one Smith Scholar will be selected annually for a $10,000 award, renewable up to three times or until a bachelor’s degree is earned, providing continued support throughout their degree.

Application criteria:

High school senior
Permanent resident of one of the following states: Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Tennessee
Plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited two- or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school in the United States for the entire upcoming academic year
Pursue a degree in healthcare, including but not limited to medicine, healthcare (clinical or administrative), or public health
Minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent)

*Children and grandchildren of First Nation Group, LLC and The First Nation Group Foundation Inc. are ineligible.

Celebrating our Inaugural Scholar

The inaugural Kendra Smith Scholarship recipient, Emily Jemison of Atlanta, GA, began her studies at Duke University this fall, pursuing biology and cultural anthropology.

“The Kendra Smith Scholarship has provided the foundation of support that I need to learn and to begin working towards change.“

Emily plans to earn her MD/PhD and become a dermatologist specializing in CRISPR Cas-9 research focused on skin cancer. She is committed to increasing trust in marginalized communities around emerging genetic technologies and advancing equitable access to care. Emily is also passionate about environmental justice and intends to partner with nonprofits in Cancer Alley to support residents and help inform meaningful, community-driven programs.