From One Application to Endless Possibilities: Dr. Shumake’s Scholarship Story

Posted January 23, 2026 under:

Written by Christina Miller

Every dream deserves a fair shot, and that’s exactly what the Foundation’s General Scholarship Application is designed to give. With one application, students are matched to nearly 90 scholarship opportunities that support high school seniors, current and returning college students, trade/vocational programs, and graduate students. If you’re ready to take the next step in your education, submit your application before the deadline on March 2, 2026, so you don’t miss out.

Dr. Brandy Shumake, General Scholarship Recipient, smiling and saying "love" in sign language

Pictured: Dr. Brandy Shumake, General Scholarship Recipient; Caleb Perry Photography

For General Scholarship recipient, Dr. Brandy Shumake, education is personal. She’s living proof that access and opportunity can reroute a life. Her doctoral journey is the next step in a mission she’s been on since childhood, and her path to this moment has been anything but ordinary. Raised as the youngest—and only girl—of three children in Louisville’s West End by way of Atlanta, Dr. Shumake faced obstacles most people can hardly imagine. Her childhood was marked by not knowing when her next meal would be, moving from home to home, and having limited access to healthcare. Her mother, a longtime Jefferson County Public Schools teacher, and father, a tradesman, both struggled with addiction. Yet amid those challenges, one value stood unwavering at home: education matters.

“Education saved my life,” Dr. Shumake shares. School—public, private, and music—became both refuge and launchpad. That lived truth fuels her calling today as she works tirelessly to make education more equitable and accessible so success feels attainable for every student, not just the lucky few.

Finding a Voice Through Rhythm

Dr. Shumake’s love for teaching began early, with drumsticks in hand. As a child, she was active in the River City Drum Corp. (RCDC), a cultural arts organization that uses music and cultural education to help students succeed in life. By age eight, she was already teaching younger children in the program and in local schools, discovering how rhythm could open doors to confidence, community, and learning. Those early experiences didn’t just spark a hobby; they lit a lifelong passion for using the arts to educate, empower, and heal.

That passion fueled Dr. Shumake’s academic journey, leading her to the University of Louisville, where she graduated in July 2025 with her EdD in Educational Leadership and Organizational Development. Her doctoral dissertation—“Discovering the Personal and Communal Drumbeat: Exploring the Benefit of Culturally Relevant Community Mentoring Programming”—centered on the impact of community-based mentorship, with RCDC as its core case study. She’s exploring the relationship between after-school drumming programs and students’ perceptions of themselves and their schools. Specifically, how culturally relevant community‑based mentoring can change trajectories, especially for youth who carry heavy burdens. Her goal is to create lasting, systemic change through programs that meet students where they are and invite them to engage deeply.

Dr. Brandy Shumake smiling and wearing her UofL sweatshirt

Pictured: Dr. Brandy Shumate proudly representing her alma mater, the University of Louisville

 

Teaching, Advocacy, and Showing Up

Professionally, Dr. Shumake shows up for students and families every day. In her role as a special education facilitator, she walks parents and guardians through evaluations and due processes, making complex systems feel navigable and humane. She uses standardized assessments to identify exceptionalities and support needs, and she champions classroom practices that center representation, resources, and dignity.

She also shares what she’s learned with the wider community. At the FCPS Family University Conference, Dr. Shumake presented “Are you GAME (Getting All Members Engaged),” illustrating how gameplay at home and school can spark engagement and improve academic outcomes. Her work blends practical strategy with care, always returning to the core belief that when students feel seen and invited to participate, they rise.

Dr. Brandy Shumake presenting her research.

Pictured: Dr. Brandy Shumake presenting to a group

Leadership in the Arts and Community

Dr. Shumake’s commitment extends far beyond the classroom. She has served, led, and lifted organizations across Kentucky through board service and community leadership, including:

  • Lexington Civic Artists In Residency Advisory Board (2020 – 2023)
  • American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (Member, August 2012 – Present)
  • Kentucky Speech-Language-Hearing Association (Member, August 2012 – Present)
  • Art in Action: Global Theatre (Sierra Leone 2025)
  • Bluegrass Association of Black Educators (Current Vice-President, 2022-2024)
  • The Lexington Singers (Past President, 2022-2023; Board of Directors / Trustee, 2015 – 2018)
  • TEDxYouth – Ignited Event (2022)
  • Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (Arts and Letters Co-Chair, Regional committee leadership)
  • Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra IDEA Task Force – Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility (2020-2023)
  • River City Drum Corp Cultural Arts Institute (Board of Directors, 2016–2020; Alumni Support Group – active)

Her artistic practice is part of her approach to teaching. Dr. Shumake teaches adult dance, including tap, ballet, and contemporary, and uses movement and music to engage students in and beyond the classroom. In 2019, she was cast as a principal character in LAST CALL The Musical, a production exploring addiction and recovery. Through post‑show conversations, she saw again how education, art, and representation can reduce stigma and build connection, carrying these lessons into her research and daily work.

Dr. Shumake singing at a public performance

Pictured: Dr. Brandy Shumake singing at a public performance

Now, decades later, Dr. Shumake leads the very program that helped shape her serving as the Executive Director of the River City Drum Corp Cultural Arts Institute. In her leadership at RCDC, Dr. Shumake has led the development of strategic programming, alumni engagement, mentor training structures, and cultural events that uplift both tradition and innovation. Whether she is crafting a student handbook, organizing a citywide performance, or mentoring a young drummer, Dr. Shumake shows up with authenticity, vision, and love for her community. Her leadership is deeply informed by her lived experience, her educational expertise, and her belief that art is not just expression—but liberation.

Ready to Take Your Path to Success?

Dr. Shumake’s ‘North Star’ is simple and profound: build systems where every student can see a path to success and believe they belong on it.

If her journey resonates, here’s your moment.