Middle Georgia native created a scholarship for high school seniors

MILLEDGEVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Giving back to the community was always important to one Middle Georgia native.

So Shade Cannie created the Mini Mogul Scholarship to help minority girls succeed in college.

It’s no secret that college can be expensive. Not everyone gets a full ride or has parents who can pay for school out of pocket. This is why Shade Cannie is created the Mini Mogul Scholarship in 2014.

“After graduating, I wanted to do something that would help little girls that look like me, ” Cannie said. “College although it was fun, rewarding, it sometimes could be a financial burden, and so I definitely wanted to make sure that the women and girls after me didn’t have to face those same burdens that I had to.”

Cannie created the scholarship through her non-profit organization called The Cannie Group (TCG).

In the past two years she’s been able to give girls a total of $1,000 in scholarships and a laptop through fundraising and donations, but next year she wants to give girls more money.

Her goal is $3,000. She said that amount can help a college student with supplies, their school bill, and even food.

“Most students go to college with just enough money or scholarships to get their academics paid for. Let’s say this student is a nursing student, one book is $250, they’ll need four. A $1,000 is a meal plan, ” she said.

Cannie was inspired to give back to her community by her mentor Felicia Cummings. She was her English teacher in high school who never gave up on her.

Cummings helps Cannie with her organization.

“It’s amazing when one girl wants to make such a big difference in a community, so I said whatever you need from me, you got it,” Cummings said.

Cannie said for girls to be successful, it has to start from somewhere.

“It starts with education, not necessarily college, but education, whether it’s economics, spiritual, financial, physical, mental.”

A young woman passionate about her community believes she can help everyone with just a little help from you.

Cannie said she needs help raising money for the scholarship. Also, any local businesses that can give girls internships would be helpful.

If you’d like to help Cannie, you can contact her at shademcannie@gmail.com.