2026
Madeline R. Willette
Memorial Scholarship Awardees
Jet Dickerson
Hillsdale College
Hillsdale, Michigan
Jet graduated from Germantown Academy in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, in June 2026. This fall, he will begin his freshman year at Hillsdale College, where he plans to major in Economics.
Throughout his years at Germantown Academy, Jet distinguished himself as a dedicated student and scholar. His academic honors include multiple Germantown Academy High Honors recognitions, membership in the National Society of High School Scholars, and recognition through the Spanish Language Honor Society.
Jet also excelled as an athlete. He was a Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association Champion and a three-time UAGTCA Outstanding Athlete.
His track and field journey began when he joined High Level Track Club at just six years old, competing in his first UAGTCA meet at age seven. Over the next eleven years, he competed in nearly every track and field event, earning opportunities to compete at the AAU Junior Olympics and Indoor Nationals. In reflecting on his athletic journey, Jet credits track and field with teaching him perseverance, discipline, and resilience—lessons he believes will help him overcome future challenges both on and off the track.
Jet brings that same determination to the classroom. He has described academic excellence as a personal standard, not simply a goal. After earning all A’s through eighth grade, his first B+ in advanced Algebra became an important lesson: growth often comes through challenge. From that point forward, Jet continued to seek out honors and AP coursework, ultimately graduating with a 4.41 GPA while earning numerous academic awards and memberships in academic societies.
As Jet begins this next chapter at Hillsdale College, he carries with him a strong work ethic, a love of learning, and the resilience of a seasoned competitor.
On behalf of the UAGTCA and our generous scholarship donors—Aaron Robison, John Fistner, Helmut McIntosh, and Rhonda Baker—the Madeline R. Willette Scholarship committee is pleased to present Jet with a $1,500 award.
Kyle Gordon
University of Maryland
Eastern Shore
Kyle graduated from North Penn High School in Lansdale, Pennsylvania in June 2025. He is currently in his sophomore year at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, where he is majoring in Computer Science.
Kyle’s athletic accomplishments are exceptional. He is a two-time Pennsylvania State Champion, four-time All-State honoree, and three-time All-Suburban One League honoree.
He was also a member of the Mallery Challengers, Infinity, and Philly Factor track clubs, where he continued to develop his talent, discipline, and competitive spirit.
Reflecting on his track and field journey, Kyle shared that the sport gave him one of the most defining moments of his life.
As a freshman and sophomore, he faced setbacks, including injuries in both seasons. But during his junior year, his perseverance paid off when he ran 49.96 in the 400 meters and 1:52 in the 800 meters—performances that helped him earn a scholarship to a Division 1 school.
That experience taught Kyle to trust the process, believe that his time would come, and understand that the difference between falling short and achieving success often depends on how hard a person is willing to work after disappointment.
He carries that same dedication beyond the track, recognizing that the discipline and determination he has developed through athletics can make a meaningful difference in every area of his life.
On behalf of the UAGTCA and our generous scholarship donors—Aaron Robison, John Fistner, Helmut McIntosh, and Rhonda Baker—the Madeline R. Willette Scholarship Committee is pleased to present Kyle with a $1,500 award.
Sherisse Peterson
Arizona State University
Glendale, AZ
Sherisse is a Madeline R. Willette Scholarship awardee whose accomplishments reflect excellence in the classroom, on the track, and in her personal growth.
She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Howard University in May 2025 and earned Dean’s List honors all four years. She is now continuing her graduate studies at Arizona State University, where she is majoring in Sports Psychology.
Many of you know that success in track and field does not happen overnight. Sherisse understands that well. She has been an athlete for 16 years, and her track and field accomplishments are outstanding. She is a UAGTCA multiple record holder, a 21-time All-American, a Millrose Games meet record holder, and an AAU Junior Olympic record holder in the 800 meters.
Sherisse was also a member of the Delco Stallions Track Club, where she developed not only as a competitor, but also as a leader and role model for younger athletes coming behind her.
She is pursuing a master’s degree in sports psychology because, as an athlete herself, she understands that athletes need support not only physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. Her goal is to become a Certified Mental Performance Consultant, so she can help athletes build confidence, handle pressure, and reach their goals.
Sherisse has said that working with young athletes brings her joy because she remembers being your age, starting her own journey, learning from others, and growing through the sport. Now, she is giving back to the same type of community that helped shape her.
Sherisse strives to honor Madeline Regina Willette’s legacy by using her education, leadership, and athletic experiences to make a meaningful impact both on and off the field.
On behalf of the UAGTCA and our generous scholarship donors—Aaron Robison, John Fistner, Helmut McIntosh, and Rhonda Baker—the Madeline R. Willette Scholarship Committee is pleased to present Sherisse with a $1,500 award.
Kyra Williams
University of Pennsylvania –
Graduate School of Education
Kyra is a Gates Millennium Scholar and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education degree (Ed.D.) at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education, where she continues to strengthen her expertise and advance her professional goals in the field of education.
Each year, Penn GSE faculty review the progress of doctoral students, and Kyra’s most recent review offered a powerful reflection of her work: “We believe you are inventing what it means to be a scholar-artist-educator-innovator.”
As a multimedia artist, social entrepreneur, and multimodal scholar-practitioner, Kyra is charting her own path in academia while building a legacy of impact for the next generation of Black youth. She is the founder of “Stories in My Backyard” (SIMBY), a nonprofit organization, and a founding member of “BLIVE”, a premier Black student affinity and empowerment group at the NYU Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music. Kyra secured a partnership between SIMBY and the Academy at Penn, expanding the VR and photography programs to 200 School District of Philadelphia students during this 5-year, $8 million college
and career readiness initiative.
She also volunteers her talents as a journalist, photographer, videographer, and DJ.
Kyra’s accomplishments also extend to track and field. She earned numerous awards as a field event competitor, including a four-time Public League Champion, two-time District XII and Pennsylvania State qualifier, and three-time UAGTCA Outstanding Athlete. She was also a member of the Mallery Challengers and Philly Factor track clubs.
A decade after graduating from high school, ending her track career, becoming a Gates Millennium Scholar, and leaving for NYU, Kyra has returned back home to Philadelphia to lead the kinds of creative opportunities she wishes she had while growing up in this city.
Through her work, Madeline Regina Willette’s principles of academics, athletics, mentorship, leadership, and community beautifully intersect.
On behalf of the UAGTCA and our generous scholarship donors—Aaron Robison, John Fistner, Helmut McIntosh, and Rhonda Baker—the Madeline R. Willette Scholarship Committee is pleased to present Kyra with a $1,500 award.
Madeline Regina Willette
Memorial Scholarship
A LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE
Madeline Regina Willette was more than a coach. She was a mentor, a teacher, and a leader. She was a founding member of the United Age Group Track Coaches Association (UAGTCA), where she helped shape the future of youth track and field in the region. She was also the Head Coach of the Philadelphia Express Track Club, where she inspired countless young athletes to pursue their dreams. And she was an educator in the Philadelphia Archdiocesan School System, where she challenged her students to become well-rounded, critical thinkers.
Madeline passed away in 2009, but her legacy lives on. The UAGTCA established the Madeline Regina Willette Memorial Scholarship in her honor, to recognize and reward students who embody her ideals of excellence, passion, and service.
The scholarship is open to applicants who have competed in either the UAGTCA Meets or the Philadelphia Express Cross-Country Series for at least five years, and who have demonstrated respectable academic knowledge and athletic abilities.
MRW Scholarship Application
Please include the following in your application package:
• The completed application form (included in the link below)
• Your FINAL transcript
• Acceptance letter from your institute of higher education
• Community Service documentation
• Essay
Submit your application package to dianejackson@uagtca.org no later than Friday, July 2, 2027, at 11:00 PM.
Applications received after this deadline will not be considered.
Selected award recipients will be notified on Friday, July 9, 2027.
Awards will be presented at the Ron Jackson Youth Invitational on Sunday, July 18, 2027.
The United Age Group Track Coaches Association wishes all student-athletes continued success in their educational pursuits.