KENNESAW, Ga. | May 20, 2020

Accomplished Kennesaw State University student Artis Trice again has earned national recognition, receiving a $10,000 scholarship from Taco Bell toward pursuing his passion of solving food insecurity in Atlanta.

Trice, a geography major and Honors student from Ellenwood, was one of only 66 students chosen from 11,000 applicants nationwide to receive one of the scholarships. Taco Bell is awarding a total of $3 million in scholarships, and Trice won the second-highest amount of $10,000 for the Foundation Live Más Scholarship.

“Artis Trice is well deserving of this scholarship award and we are very proud of him,” said Kennesaw State President Pamela Whitten. “We emphasize to our students that being engaged in their community is part of lifelong learning, and Artis epitomizes that commitment on and off campus. He is a shining example of the quality of students we have at Kennesaw State.”

A rising senior, Trice aspires to work for a nonprofit to “make sure everyone has access to fresh food across Atlanta.” He said that a portion of the Taco Bell scholarship will cover his final year at Kennesaw State, and the remainder will go toward his future endeavors, including graduate school.

“It’s unbelievable. I was in shock when I saw the email from them,” Trice said. “The funds will stay in my name for three years, and I can use the money toward graduate school or any educational expense. That’s a blessing I didn’t see coming.”

Trice is particularly committed to addressing chronic hunger within communities of color. Trice has taught lessons on nutrition, environmental studies, and healthy living to hundreds of students in metro Atlanta and in Jamaica, and he created a high school curriculum regarding communities growing, selling and eating healthy food during a fellowship in Seattle.

In announcing the scholarships, Taco Bell described Trice as “passionate about solving systemic food insecurity around the world. He believes food is the key to understanding history and culture, solving international conflicts, helping to cure diseases, and much more.”

Civic engagement has been a priority for Trice during his time at Kennesaw State. Last year, he was one of 264 college students to receive the Newman Civic Fellowship, a one-year experience emphasizing personal, professional and civic growth, and providing a variety of learning and networking opportunities. Trice studied abroad in the Dominican Republic, participating in a public health program.

Trice currently is part of a group of KSU geography and geographic information science students, faculty and alumni volunteering to collect and update data for an online map of COVID-19 testing locations nationwide. Trice routinely checks information about testing sites in two Alabama counties he “adopted” for the project, and he inputs any necessary updates into the map.

“I try to do good work – not for the recognition, but just to be able to support others,” Trice said. “I haven’t been able to do any of these things alone. These accomplishments have been possible only through the communities that I’ve been able to work in and with, and the people who have influenced me.”

Click here for a local news story about Artis Trice’s scholarship award.

– Paul Floeckher

Photos submitted

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A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 45,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.