Myers awarded full ride for writing

Special to The Canton News

Recently, best-selling author Angie Thomas and Belhaven University surprised unsuspecting Canton High School senior Ahniya Myers with the 2023 Angie Thomas Writers Scholarship for creative writing.

“As I read Ahniya’s writing samples, I immediately fell in love with her craft,” said Thomas. “Her talent and skill blew me away, and I know that the creative writing program was created with a student like her in mind.”

The scholarship, named in honor of Belhaven University alumna Angie Thomas, 2011, was created to help young aspiring writers who need extra support to make their dreams of authorship a reality.

Myers is the fourth student to win the scholarship, which covers tuition, room and board at the university for four years.

Belhaven professor and Chair of Creative Writing Dr. Randall Smith and other school officials presented Myers with the award.

The Angie Thomas Writers Scholarship is awarded to only one incoming freshman each year, but other applicants received partial scholarships. Thomas is the author of the New York Times’ best-selling novels Concrete Rose, On the Come Up, The Hate U Give, and Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy. The Hate U Give and On the Come Up were developed into major motion pictures.