Matthew Dormus

High School Graduation Year: 2022
Year First Awarded the Carson Scholarship: 2016
Sponsored by: Carson Scholars Fund

Matthew Dormus is a 7-time Carson Scholar and a 2024 Carson Scholars Hall of Fame Inductee. Matthew was first awarded in 2016 when he was in sixth grade. Matthew is currently a student at Oakwood University pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Public Policy.

As a student at Oakwood University, Matthew has been very involved in various organizations. Matthew was awarded the title of Mister Oakwood University; the title is given to students by winning a campus pageant and being a community role model. During his time as Mister Oakwood University, Matthew created an on-campus mental health room and produced a fifteen-episode video series that had over 150,000 views. He also co-founded and hosted Good Morning OU, a talk show at his university. The show has over 185,000 views and it spotlighted student life and campus news. Matthew is currently the student government academic vice president and was previously a senator for the student government.

Matthew is not only involved in his university’s government, but local and federal government as well! Matthew was a County Committee Intern in Georgia in 2025. He was also a White House Historically Black College or University Scholar from June of 2024 until January of 2025. In this position Matthew produced a video series that was promoted by the U.S Secretary of Education, and he spoke at a national conference for the Department of Education.

Matthew was awarded the Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship for Public Service in 2025. With the funding from the Obama Foundation, Matthew will be studying mental health on a global level. He will be traveling to six continents in six weeks during the summer in 2026. Matthew is a Harvard Public Policy Leadership Conference Scholar. After being one of only 50 students to be accepted, Matthew got to be a part of intensive policy training hosted and funded by Harvard.

In 2025, Matthew became an intern for Global Ties Alabama, in this position he helps coordinate exchange programs through the U.S. Department of State to create international dialogue and citizen diplomacy. He also became a fellow for American Federation for Children. This fellowship allows Matthew to help expand educational opportunities for children by working with elected officials. He was named the 2025 Community Champion for Redstone Federal Credit Union. Matthew was honored for advancing community well-being. Redstone Federal Credit Union featured Matthew on 40 billboards across Alabama and created a short documentary.

In 2024, he was named an AT&T Rising Future Maker. He was one of only 25 students picked and he was awarded for his innovation and cultural influence. In that same year he was honored by Nike and named Nike Yardrunner, for inspiring change and representing Nike’s commitment to the community and to excellence. Matthew has written a book called, “This is Your Sign to Do Something.” It is set to come out in the coming months.

Along with all of his schoolwork, leadership positions, and internships, Matthew works for the American Red Cross and volunteers for the City Hall of Huntsville, Alabama. Matthew is an ambassador for the American Red Cross and organizes blood drives on his university campus. He was also the founder and director of Operation Radiate, a community service organization, where he led over 150 people, raised money, organized events, and secured grants for Philippine typhoon relief and seniors in low-income housing.