Thurgood Marshall High School senior Nealeonn Scott earned the prestigious W.S. McIntosh Memorial Leadership Award.

The award provides full tuition, room and board to the University of Dayton and a four-year paid internship with the city of Dayton.

It honors W.S. McIntosh, a civil rights leader in Dayton in the 1960s. McIntosh led one of the first major civil rights protests in Dayton, organized community groups and was executive director of the Dayton chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality. He was shot and killed while trying to prevent a robbery at a downtown jewelry store March 4, 1974.

Scott told the selection committee he is inspired by McIntosh’s commitment to social justice and community involvement. An honor roll student and Phi Theta Kappa member for academic excellence while also enrolled at Sinclair Community College, Scott is active in his high school debate team, tennis team, student council and school NAACP chapter. He also served as the 2024 Dayton delegate to Buckeye Boys State. He intends to major in political science and hopes to create positive change in the city of Dayton.

McIntosh scholars are committed to the ideals of social justice and demonstrate potential for community leadership. The goal of the program, established in 1987 by UD professor Pat Palermo and city of Dayton human resources analyst Mike Herrlein, is to encourage local students to attend UD and stay in the area after graduation by supporting their education and helping them develop professional experience while in school. 

More information on the McIntosh Scholarship is available on the University’s website.