Dr. TNT Scholarship
Dr. Terence Thomas Scholar Profile: Autumn Mays
Autumn Mays is a 20-year-old rising senior at DePaul University. Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Autumn grew up with a deep love for the performing arts, especially music. She began her own journey with music at the age of 8 with her participation in Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra’s (MYSO) “Progressions” Program. Spending 10 years in MYSO, she finished the program in their flagship orchestra “Senior Symphony”. Throughout her tenure with MYSO, she was not only molded into a classically trained violinist but was also granted multiple opportunities to develop her musicianship and leadership skills. These opportunities included performing alongside The Piano Guys, Black Violin, composing two orchestral compositions and co-creating the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center Student Advisory Board. Because of these experiences, it further solidified Autumn’s passion for the arts, but also made her further aware of the lack of accessibility for the arts in her community. With a newfound motivation to combat the disparities of arts accessibility, Autumn set her sights on majoring in Performing Arts Management and double minoring in Communication Studies and Business Administration.
As a Performing Arts Management student, Autumn’s coursework focuses on not-for-profit arts administration as well as commercial music management to prepare for the extensiveness of the performing arts industry. With her minors in Communication Studies and Business Administration, she can further develop her communication and entrepreneurship skills to support her knowledge in the performing arts world. To supplement her class and practicum work, Autumn is on the DePaul University School of Music Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Board as the sole student board member to bridge the gap between student and faculty/staff communication and encourage improvements that can be made regarding diversity, equity and inclusion values at the School of Music. Over the course of the summer, she has been interning with Elevated Chicago, a collaborative of residents, organizations, artists, city officials and philanthropists that work to promote equitable community and transit development. As the Arts & Culture intern, Autumn is focused on creating arts and cultural strategies that embody Elevated Chicago’s values, creating spaces for artists in the community and research to create arts resources in the city of Chicago.
In addition to her music and educational endeavors, Autumn’s interest in philanthropy encouraged her to found her own not-for-profit organization NoteWorthy Inc in 2020. As the Founder/CEO, she strives to grant financial resources and musical opportunities to underrepresented youth in her community in hopes of fostering a new generation of performers that will break down stereotypes. Furthermore, she was awarded the 2021 National Philanthropic Youth of Today Award for her work as the first vice-chair of the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center Student Advisory Board.
Autumn is grateful to be receiving the Dr.Terence Thomas Scholarship award for a fourth year as it has been essential to funding her academic career and goals. Currently, she is balancing being a full-time student, not-for-profit founder, musician, and model. After finishing her bachelor’s degree, she plans to either attend graduate school or directly work in both the not-for-profit and commercial sectors of the music industry with the ultimate goal of making music and the performing arts accessible to all.
Graduate Profile: Cameron LeFlore
Cameron LeFlore is a four-year recipient of the Dr. TNT Scholarship! We are very excited that he is giving back to the community in his future endeavors!
“At DePaul University I graduated Summa Cum Laude (3.967), worked as an on campus Resident Advisor and was the only black male in my graduating class! I was on the Deans list every Quarter all four years and I will be teaching Freshman and Sophomore English courses at Rufus King high school this fall:)) This scholarship has helped reduce my tuition and pay for books throughout my time at DePaul!!”
Student Spotlight – Dr. TNT Graduate Elise Ashley
“This scholarship has meant the world to me. As a seven year recipient, I cannot begin to express my gratitude for the Dr. Terence N. Thomas Scholarship Fund and for Mrs. (Patricia) Pattillo’s (MCJ publisher) support and commitment to young individuals within the Milwaukee Community.
“It has also been an absolute pleasure to meet fellow scholarship recipients and follow along with their journeys. I am already witnessing the difference the fund has made in not only my life, but in the lives of others. I am truly so grateful for the fund and its uplifting presence in my life.
“I was one of my graduation ceremony’s commencement speakers. Below you will find my bio highlighting my accomplishments during my time at UW (University of Wisconsin) Law, as well as the link to the law school’s feature on the commencement speakers.
Elise A. Ashley was born and raised in Milwaukee. She received her bachelor’s degree in political science and criminal justice from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. During law school, Elise served as a 1L representative and co-executive Director of the Black Law Students Association. Elise also served as the Senior articles editor for the Wisconsin Law Review and worked as a clinical law student with the eviction defense clinic. She is a member of the Moot Court Board and competed in the New York City Bar Association Moot Court Competition. Additionally, she participated in the law meets mergers and acquisitions bootcamp. In 2022, Elise received the Bruce Beilfuss Memorial Award for outstanding service to the law school and the Gwynette E. Smalley Law Review Prize for special contributions to the Wisconsin Law Review.
After graduation, Elise will return to Milwaukee and begin working as a commercial litigation attorney at Quarles & Brady.
Link to UW Law School’s Feature on Commencement