40 students receive African American Youth Achievement Awards

Evanston Township High School hosted the 28th annual African American Youth Achievement (AAYAA) and Trailblazer Awards at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6. Themed “Honoring the Past — Inspiring the Future,” the program is part of the community’s celebration of Black History Month.

Forty students from Evanston/Skokie public schools in grades 4 to 12 received awards. Recipients were selected for their leadership, scholarship and daily actions that pay homage to the legacy and vision of African American pioneers.

The ceremony commenced with an African drum performance and song as the honorees, wearing vibrant Kente cloth stoles, proceeded through the auditorium and onto the stage. Once seated, they were greeted with applause from family members, friends, teachers and school administrators. An opening musical performance by SOUL Creations wowed the audience, showcasing the pivotal role that drums play in ceremonies and special occasions in African culture.

“That’s how you start a Black History Month celebration,” said AAYAA program co-coordinator Denise Martin. She welcomed attendees to “a celebration of intelligence and excellence,” made possible by program committee members, a host of generous sponsors and founders Mary Wilkerson and the late Delores Holmes. Martin invited recipients and audience members to stand and join in singing the Black National Anthem Lift Every Voice and Sing and concluded with her introduction of Mayor Daniel Biss.

Mayor’s congratulatory message

In his remarks, Biss noted that this year’s award ceremony was a joyous occasion held “in kind of a strange time. In this moment, the idea of celebrating diversity is under attack. The idea of celebrating equity is under attack. The idea of celebrating inclusion is under attack,” he said.

He expressed his gratitude for the city’s partnership with District 65 and ETHS, and thanked District 65 Superintendent Angel Turner and ETHS Superintendent Marcus Campbell for their work.

Biss pointed to Campbell’s opinion piece, “In Defense of Equity Work,” published last month in Newsweek, where Campbell wrote that, for educators, abandoning diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts is “not an option.”

“Here we are … celebrating the extraordinary achievements of our African American youth,” Biss continued. “We’re doing it so that we might acknowledge that, for most of this country’s history, we’ve had a blind spot to Black excellence.”

Specifically, Biss highlighted the brilliant contributions made by Black Americans to art, science, music, culture and governance. “And yet, we spent centuries … pretending it wasn’t there. If we want to correct for that, it’s time for us to lift up this remarkable wellspring of talent … that has been such an engine of American vitality.”

He concluded by addressing the students on the stage: “We’re so proud of you,” he said. “We’re so in awe of not only what you’ve accomplished so far, but of what you’re going to accomplish. We know that this society will be greater because of your … commitment to make the world better for everybody around you.”

Recipients

A teacher, principal or assistant principal read the nominating statement for each student receiving an award. Two students were selected from each District 65 school, and two from each grade at ETHS.

The awardees included:

Djamal Abdelnassir, Nichols; Ademide Ayodeji Adelusi, Lincoln; Atiya Alexander, Willard; Juvens Augustin, Oakton; Leandre Beckford, Dawes; Rebecca Bennett, Walker; Katelyn Blackwood, Dewey; Calder Bradshaw, Walker; Quetzalli Brissette, ninth grade at ETHS; Isaiah Marcell Brunson, Park; Mariah Burnett, Rice; Aidan Dennison, Dewey; Dumah Edwards, ninth grade at ETHS; Simone Hewitt, Nichols; Rockwell Holman, Washington; Nala Im, Orrington; Jonathan Jackson, Haven; Amara Johnson, Oakton; Byron Johnson, Rhodes; Keira Joseph, Park; Michael Lavizzo, 12th grade at ETHS; Jhorri Mack, Chute; Jream Martin, Kingsley; Nabil Mato, Orrington; Kamarui McSwine, Dawes; Hadassah Morris, King Arts; Marat Morris, 10th grade at ETHS; Hannah Ngola, Haven; Chinyerem Osuji, Lincoln; Katie Paquette, Washington; Lyra Pointer, Rhodes; Darren Slaughter, Kingsley; Averi Storey, 10th grade at ETHS; Evan Taylor, King Arts; Tehtina Tsedeke, 12th grade at ETHS; Cameron Vassell, Lincolnwood; Jevon Wallace, 11th grade ETHS; Jazmine White, 11th grade at ETHS; Dante Wilson, Chute; and Jameer Wright, Lincolnwood.

Students and their families were invited to a reception at ETHS before the program, where each honoree received an award certificate, a one-year family membership to the McGaw YMCA and gift cards for books and ice cream.

Each student also received a Kente stole to wear during the ceremony. Originating from Ghana, Kente cloth is woven in patterns once reserved for royalty, now widely recognized as a symbol of African heritage and accomplishment.

Living Legend-Trailblazer Award

In 2009, as part of the AAYAA program, the Living Legend-Trailblazer Award was established to honor African American residents for their leadership and contributions to the community in encouraging and inspiring African American youth.

AAYAA program co-coordinator and Second Ward City Council Member Krissie Harris presented the 2025 Living Legend-Trailblazer Award to C. Louise Brown.

Brown served 15 years as the City of Evanston’s public health director. She is also an ordained deacon at Second Baptist Church, and has traveled to Ghana, Haiti, Kenya and Nigeria through the church’s missions ministry.

In addition, Brown is a registered nurse and holds a public health administration degree from the University of Illinois. She volunteers with the city’s Health Services Advisory Committee, the Child Care Network of Evanston, Early Head Start and a host of other organizations and committees. She’s a founding member of the Unity Scholarship program, which is celebrating 40 years in the community. She is also a 73-year member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

In addition to the Living Legend-Trailblazer Award, Harris presented a special recognition award to Evanston native and Chute Middle School Principal Jim McHolland, who is retiring at the conclusion of the current school year after nearly three decades of service to the Chute community.

The AAYAA program committee is a small group of individuals who plan and implement the event. In addition to co-coordinators Martin and Harris, this year’s program committee members include Sydni Craig, Gail Hutchinson, Michele Lacy, Marion Macbeth and Mary Thomas.

40 students receive African American Youth Achievement Awards is from Evanston RoundTable, Evanston's most trusted source for unbiased, in-depth journalism.