Mahlon Rhaney
A newly-created scholarship celebrates the historic accomplishment of two Tallahassee students who were the first to integrate Florida High. It was initiated by Shauna Smith, a retired TCC professor and proud graduate of Florida High in Tallahassee. I came into Florida High about 3 or 4 years after Keith and Mahlon came and did their historic effort. I ve been a graduate since 1972.
dignitymemorial.com Keith Neyland
The Keith she refers to is Keith Neyland and Mahlon is Mahlon Rhaney. More on them in a moment. First, we ll flashback to February of last year for a special event at Smith s alma mater.
“Imagine a teen who is going through a traumatic situation at home and doesn t know how to handle it,” she says empathetically. “Teens in America go through traumatic situations every day and are not aware of the resources that are available or where they can turn for help.”
Asia experienced this first hand as a seventh grader, when her father abandoned her and her mother. The news caused feelings of depression, anxiety, and confusion.
“I needed someone to talk to; someone I could trust,” she recalls, and knew that others were experiencing similar circumstances.
“I felt my school didn’t have an outlet for students experiencing similar situations that I was going through. I reached out to Dr. Chambers, our School Director, and High School Principal, Ms. Brink as I was interested in starting a new school club.”