2025 Gwendolyn V. Smith Scholarship Recipients
Mariah Osborne
Hello, I am Mariah Osborne. I am an 18-year-old from Hendersonville, Tennessee, and I just graduated from Beech High School. I plan to attend Middle Tennessee State University as an elementary education major this upcoming fall. A few words to describe me are hard-working, reliable, empathetic, and patient. Unlike many people in my family, I have the chance to attend college, and I am eternally grateful for the opportunity. I want to use this scholarship to help me in college so I can empower both my education and my future students.
GNABSE
Serenity Slaughter
Hello, my name is Serenity Slaughter, and I am a recent graduate of Nashville School of the Arts. My career aspiration is to become an educator in the public school system. This fall, I will attend Tennessee State University, where I will major in Art Education. I look forward to developing the knowledge and skills needed to inspire students through creativity, artistic expression, and meaningful learning experiences.
GNABSEGNABSE is a group of professional educators aligned with the National Alliance of Black School Educators (www.NABSE.org) for the purpose of addressing issues that impact the success of children, particularly children of African descent.
OUR MISSION The Mission of the Greater Nashville Alliance of Black School Educators (GNABSE), is to promote excellence in the education of all children, particularly students of African descent.
Our Vision
Our vision is to become the premier affiliate of the National Alliance of Black School Educators.
Our Purpose
To promote and facilitate the education of all students, children of African descent, in particular.
Our Objective
Influence & impact local, state, and national policies that affect the education of all students, with a particular focus on African American students.
ACT Prep Seminar
With ZAPS Focused Test Prep from Doorway to College Foundation
GNABSE is pleased to announce the completion of two successful spring ACT prep seminars. The seminars were held on March 17th and March 21st, 2026 at East Nashville High School and First Baptist Church Capitol Hill. A total of thirty-three students took advantage of this opportunity to improve their ACT performance. The focus of the seminar is to enhance student scores and build confidence through strategic test-taking techniques, intensive practice, and subject matter review. First Baptist Church Capitol Hill provided lunch for the March 21st seminar. This school year, we are proud to have served sixty-six students through our fall and spring seminar series to support student development. GNABSE member, Dr. Iris C. Barbour, was the instructor for the seminars.