PINETOWN — Northside High School, graduate Cheyenne Franks, defined as a well-rounded leader in her class, recently received a $2,000 Martin Luther King Jr. scholarship from the North Carolina Association of Educators during the school’s Award Day program.

The NCAE Human and Civil Rights Commission gives annual scholarships in honor of King’s life and legacy. Money for the scholarship is made up of proceeds from the NCAE Martin Luther King Jr. Gala and will be applied to Franks’ college education, according to an NCAE press release.

Franks, who received several other scholarships, said she spent a lot of time searching for scholarship opportunities during her time as an office assistant her senior year.

“My father is a minority so I decided the MLK scholarship would be a good opportunity for helping me go to college,” Franks said. “It means so much to me because so many different people from so many different schools applied for it and I needed money for school and it will help me a lot in paying my tuition at ECU.”

Franks plans to attend East Carolina University and major in Psychology, and has intentions to attend law school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she said.

“ECU doesn’t have a pre-law major, but I plan to take pre-law classes there and then attend law school. I want to go to UNC-Chapel Hill, but if not, I want to attend North Carolina Central University, which also has a good law program.”

Franks said her goal is to become an attorney and serve as a voice for those who feel they don’t have one.

“Dr. King has inspired me in many ways to make a change in this society,” Franks said. “He has motivated me to speak up for what I believe in and to make sure everyone receives equal treatment.”

She modeled that behavior while in high school through leadership roles, which were influenced by her involvement in extra-curricular and community activities, according to the release. She was a member of the National Beta Club, served as Senior Class vice-president, as secretary of the Student Government Association and was an exceptional athlete in basketball, volleyball and softball, for which she received many awards.

Northside High School Junior/Senior Guidance Counselor Amber Searcy said Franks is “an enthusiastic and encouraging leader who make it a priority to listen to the needs of those she leads. As a member of SGA during all four years of high school, she had the opportunity to listen to the needs of her classmates and be an advocate for them.”

Franks also did volunteer work for the Beaufort County District Attorney’s office over the course of three years in high school.