Palmer woman closes in on national scholarship

WASILLA — A Palmer woman needs a little help from her friends to earn a scholarship that she hopes will help pay her way through dental school.

Leah James, 21, was in third place on Friday in a monthly Dr. Pepper Tuition Giveaway contest. If she is still in the top 5 in online voting through Oct. 31, she’ll win $1,000.

“It’s been crazy how supportive everyone in the Valley and family from other states have been,” she said.

As of Friday afternoon, James had 3,376 votes, trailing only a woman from Syria hoping to become a pharmacist and a man from Texas who wants to become a chemical engineer.

James said she’s a scholarship junkie who is always on the lookout for another opportunity to help pay for her post-graduate education. She found out about the Dr. Pepper scholarship through an app on her smarthone called “Scholly.”

“It’s expensive, you know,” she said.

James said she’s always been fascinated by dentistry.

“It’s just something I’ve always been interested in,” she said.

The 2013 Colony High graduate currently attends UAA and would like to go to dental school somewhere on the west coast.

“I want to stay close to home,” she said.

James said she support she’s received while trying to drum up support for her scholarship entry has been overwhelming.

“It’s been crazy, in one night I got over 300 shares,” she said.

To vote or see a video featuring James, visit drpeppertuition.com.