Norfolk Southern’s Thoroughbred Scholars program, which provides scholarships to more than 100 children of employees annually, has recognized Makaya Stubbs of Douglasville, Georgia, as one of its distinguished scholars this year.

Makaya, who plans to attend Morgan State University, a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in Baltimore, Maryland, will pursue a degree in health education. Her mother, Maya Stubbs, is a senior technology engineer in Norfolk Southern’s Information Technology department.

Makaya chose to attend an HBCU that would allow her to balance her academic goals with her passion for sports. In high school, she earned her pharmacy technician certification while participating in cheerleading. After being recruited to Morgan State’s Acrobatics and Tumbling team, she knew the university was the right fit, with its strong health education program. This scholarship will enable her to explore a promising future—a drive inspired by her mother, who has excelled in her role at Norfolk Southern for over 25 years.

Since its inception in 2022, the Thoroughbred Scholars Program has awarded over $1.4 million in scholarships to team members' children. The program annually provides 100 scholarships of up to $10,000 over four years, with three additional scholarships for distinguished students, who receive up to $40,000 over four years.

For more information about Norfolk Southern’s Thoroughbred Scholars Program and this year’s recipients, click here.