February 12, 2024 10:50am CT
Students from Evanston/Skokie school districts 65 and 202 were honored at the African-American Youth Achievement Awards ceremony on February 8, 2024. (Photo: Gail Hutchison)
Evanston Township High School hosted the 27th annual African-American Youth Achievement (AAYA) Awards to honor 41 African-American students from Evanston/Skokie public schools. Students were recognized in a ceremony on February 8, 2024, for their daily actions that pay homage to the visions and legacy of African-American pioneers. Through initiative and perseverance, each awardee has excelled in character, civility, community service, leadership, scholarship, or sportsmanship.
The AAYA program is part of a Black History Month initiative and was sponsored by Byline Bank, Chessmen, C&W Market and Ice Cream Parlor, Delta Chi Omega Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Evanston North Shore Alumnae Chapter, Ivy Pearl Foundation, Joe “Butch” Martin Foundation, Mary Wilkerson, McGaw YMCA, Mudlark, NAACP, Northwestern University, Omega Pi Zeta Chapter of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Saville Flowers, Schnell VFW Post Auxiliary, Shorefront, Gerri Sizemore, and Soul Creations, in conjunction with Evanston/Skokie School District 65 and Evanston Township High School District 202.
2024 ETHS District 202 AAYA Recipients:
Grade 12: Winston Gilbert Flowers, Jr. and Mya Nichell Shephard
Grade 11: Kari Alexander Robinson and Solomon Thomas Taylor
Grade 10: Amaya Kayla Johnson and Andrew Asafa Jones
Grade 9: Makhi Alexander Bryan and Chazahyah Bithyah Hawkins Burgess
2024 Evanston/Skokie District 65 AAYA Recipients:
Bessie Rhodes: Ji Aire Bamberg and Leah Grant
Chute: Olivia Jean-Pierre and Jaxx Watson
Dawes: Trent Bondon and Nylah Patton
Dewey: Stefani Lee Duroseau and Elijah Singleton
Haven: Cayden Cunningham and Alicea Stuart
King Arts: Reign Lewis and Isiah Wynn
Kingsley: Kaleb Horton and Amy Paddyfoot
Lincoln: Annecia Johnson and Derrick (DJ) Seivright
Lincolnwood: Jacari Ross and Keyourah Stanciel
Nichols: Shayla Hunt and Wayne Levy
Oakton: Kenneth Drew and Brooklynn Watson
Orrington: Sydney Gardner and Tyler Garriques
Park: Glen Humes and Aaliyah McGowan
Rice: Brandon S. Pommells
Walker: Kayden Harris and Khultum Salaam
Washington: Bereket Daniel and Makayla Mack
Willard: Alay’Jah Lane and DaeShaun Tinch
As part of the AAYA program, the Living Legend-Trailblazer Award honors African-American Evanstonians for their leadership and community contributions that encourage and inspire African-American youth. The 2024 recipients of the Living Legend-Trailblazer Award are Clarence and Wendy Weaver.
