High school graduates Kinsley Barnes and Smriti Seshadri will each receive $5,000 toward their college education as the recipients of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) college scholarship awards.
The Alliance selects its scholarship recipients by weighing academic performance, volunteer work/community service and extracurricular activities. Applicants for the CVSA College Scholarship Award Program must write and submit two essays, provide two letters of recommendation and a high school transcript, and have a 3.0 minimum grade point average (or equivalent). In addition, scholarship award applicants must be the legal dependent of a current CVSA member.
College scholarship recipient Kinsley Barnes is the daughter of Derrick Barnes with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. She will attend Western Carolina University and plans to major in nursing/emergency medicine.
“I aspire to help people,” said Barnes. “Growing up, I watched my mom and dad – both considered essential workers – help people in their own ways. My dad protected people under the law and my mom cared for people through medical practice. Working with my mom at the family practice in Asheville helped me realize I was interested in the medical field.”
“Whatever I do, I want to make an impact,” added Barnes.
Barnes received straight A’s throughout high school and was chosen for the Presidential Scholars Award Program. She was class president in 9th, 10th and 11th grades and was elected Student Government Association student body president her senior year. Barnes was also a part of the Key Club, a student-led organization that encourages leadership through serving others.
“Kinsley’s work ethic, attention to detail and analytic skills are admirable, and she has proven to have a great ability in being detail-oriented,” said science teacher Tom Savage.
Barnes has more than 300 hours in volunteer service, including Habitat for Humanity, Christmas food drives with Bounty of Bethlehem and the Salvation Army, Henderson County Sheriff’s Office Star Camp counselor, Hendersonville Apple Festival volunteer and more.
“Volunteering and working with others are a few of my favorite activities to do, and helping the community is so rewarding,” said Barnes.
Barnes also has a part-time job at Publix supermarket in Hendersonville. “Hendersonville is home to a lot of elderly,” said Barnes. “At Publix, I get the opportunity to help them to their cars and talk with them. A lot of the older folks don’t have anyone to talk to, so they really look forward to that one shopping day when they leave the house to get groceries. It is very enlightening to hear the wisdom they pass on, even in the very short time it takes to get from the store to their car. My job is one of the best places to meet new people and hear cool stories.”
“Kinsley is kind, thoughtful, helpful and driven,” said school counselor Amanda Willingham. “She has been very involved in our school and community. Kinsley is an exceptional student and leader.”
College scholarship recipient Smriti Seshadri is the daughter of Seshadri Puducode Venkateswaran with Vulcan Materials Company, a Class III Associate Member of the Alliance. She will attend the University of Florida and plans to major in microbiology and cell science.
“I want to be a doctor, not only because I will be able to spend my life helping others, but also because science never fails to amaze me,” said Seshadri. “I would like to specialize in ophthalmology. The reason I am inclined toward this path is personal, as I watched my grandmother struggle with glaucoma. I have glasses myself, and I was fascinated with the work my doctors did. I have also read a plethora of current research in this field and have found multiple areas within this specialization that are pioneering ventures into eye care that I would love to be a part of someday.”
Seshadri volunteers at her local religious center and as a patient and family guide at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando where she greets families at the entrance, engages patients in activities pre- and post-appointment, and directs families to appointments within the facility. “I love working with children, and I have learned a lot about the administrative aspects of medicine,” said Seshadri about her time volunteering at the hospital.
Seshadri also performs Carnatic classical music and is the youth president for JaxRaaga, a nonprofit promoting South Indian classical music. She is also a runner and volunteered at DONNA Marathon Weekend, where she helped the event run smoothly and was able to cheer on the runners.
Erika L. Sheehan, AP and IB Mathematics Department chair at Stanton College Preparatory School said of Seshadri, “Always on time, always prepared, always motivated and always engaged, Smriti is an all-around responsible student with an impressive work ethic and tremendous talent.”
Seshadri was part of four honors societies at her school and her school’s National Honor Society chapter. She competed in the regional Science Olympiad competition and earned the AP Scholar with Distinction Award in her sophomore and junior years.
“Smriti is an intelligent, driven student who will bring change to her community,” added Dayna Duncan, Stanton College Preparatory School’s AP and IB psychology teacher. “I believe there will be no limit to her growth and achievements in college and beyond.”
CVSA would like to thank this year’s college scholarship award sponsor Kepler51 Analytics. Kepler51 offers a comprehensive safety management solution using artificial intelligence and advanced analytics to identify hazards, alert stakeholders and manage the event effectively.
CVSA will begin accepting next year’s scholarship applications in February 2025.
The CVSA College Scholarship Award Program is dedicated to Gary E. Curtis. While working for the Virginia State Police, Curtis was an active member of CVSA and a cornerstone in the development of the North American Standard Inspection Program. He served as CVSA’s director of technical services in 1992. His efforts and contributions helped form the solid base upon which CVSA now proudly stands. Curtis lost his life to cancer in December 1998.