Trinity Winningham is the daughter of Kevin and Janice Winningham, and the younger sister of Olivia Winningham. Trinity has shown her leadership in her community and throughout her school by holding office as Senior Class President, National Honors Society Officer, and serving as a member of the Helen Sheffield Federated Girls' Club where she has completed many community service projects.
Her hard work and diligence in the classroom allowed her to be named the 2023 Valedictorian of her graduating class. Trinity's dedication does not stop in the classroom, but continues on the volleyball court. She as been playing volleyball for 10 years and has been awarded many accolades including being named an 'All-Star' Player and the Times and Democrat 'Player of the Year.' Because of her academics and athletics, Trinity is honored to be able to further her education while playing the sport she loves dearly. Throughout Trinity's high school years, the quote that has continuously motivated her was what her dad said to her at a very young age, "If you do the work on the front end, you'll have choices on the back end."
FOSSI: Why is receiving the FOSSI scholarship important for you?
From a young age, I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in the engineering field. After years of searching for the perfect career, I found Aerospace Engineering. I began to search for schools that offered this specific major, but it was difficult to find an HBCU that offered Aerospace.
Getting the call that I received the scholarship brought tears to my eyes, knowing that I will be able to pursue my passions.
It was very important for me to attend an HBCU because I didn't want to just be seen as a number. After deciding on Tuskegee, I was faced with another problem, which was the cost of attending a private out-of-state school. Seeing my parents struggle to put my sister through college motivated me to make sure I did everything I could to help my parents send me to school without financial burden. Getting the call that I received the scholarship brought tears to my eyes, knowing that I will be able to pursue my passions.
FOSSI: Fast forward – where do you see yourself in ten years?
In the next ten years, I see myself working at Boeing and doing what I love within aviation. I want to be a mentor for the youth in my hometown and open their eyes to opportunities that they have never heard of. I also want to travel to different conferences to learn more about the field and ultimately become a pioneer in Aerospace.
FOSSI: Share a few fun facts about yourself.
- I have been playing volleyball for 10 years.
- I am the youngest of 2 girls.
- I have traveled to Jamaica.
- I love horseback riding and swimming.
- I love to travel.
- Math is my favorite subject.
- I love trying new adventures.
Hear more from Trinity about the importance of pursuing a STEM degree.
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