The Parkins Family has graciously provided a brief yet powerful description of Asante Parkins:​​Asante Parkins was an Engineering student at Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology who graduated in 2015. During his time at POB, he was on the swim team, student government, a Student Ambassador, a member of JROTC, American Institute of Architecture Student, BioClub, and POB SMART team. He was honored to be crowned the 2014-2015 Mister POB.  Asante earned his Eagle Scout Award by creating a prayer garden for his church.​Asante loved his school and loved to help others. In December of 2014, he presented the concept of caring at a school board meeting. To know Asante was to know someone who not only loved his school but loved to help others.​Asante attended North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University and majored in Mechanical Engineering as a Dowdy Scholarship recipient. ​Asante passed away in 2016, but his spirit lives on.​His senior quote embodied who he was and what he believed in: “Life isn’t about getting and having, it’s about giving and being.” – Kevin Kruse For 2026. Applicant must be a current senior at Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology.​ Application Deadline is April 6th, 2026 at 11:59pm. Essay must be 250 words max, double-spaced, 12 pt / Arial font. Essay shall contain no grammatical errors.