Return to Headlines

African-American Youth Achievement Awards Recognize Evanston Students

March 19, 2021  11:15am CT

 

AAYA Award Honorees 2021
Students from Evanston/Skokie school districts 65 and 202 were honored at the African-American Youth Achievement Awards virtual ceremony on March 18.

 

Evanston Township High School virtually hosted the 24th annual African-American Youth Achievement (AAYA) Awards to honor 38 African-American students from Evanston/Skokie public schools. These students were recognized in a virtual ceremony on March 18, 2021, for their daily actions that pay homage to the visions and legacy of African-American pioneers.  

 

The AAYA program is part of a Black History Month initiative and was sponsored by the Ivy Pearl Foundation, Byline Bank, Chessmen, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Family Focus Evanston, Joe “Butch” Martin Foundation, McGaw YMCA, NAACP, Northwestern University, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Shorefront, Gerri Sizemore, and Soul Creations, in conjunction with Evanston/Skokie School District 65 and Evanston Township High School District 202.

 

2021 high school AAYA recipients

 

Evanston Township High School

China Archie
Lena Augusta
Naiyah Bryant
Javade Jones
Aliya Leach
Jemari Moore
Bennie Ruffin
Douglas Wood

 

2021 middle school AAYA recipients

 

Chute — 

Titilayo Ewulo

Pallage Jayatilake

 

Haven

Destiny Amponsah

Malik McCaulley

 

Nichols

Isaiah Lett-Stephenson

Nyel Rollins

 

2021 elementary and magnet school AAYA recipients

 

Bessie Rhodes — 

Amari Gray

Amari Robinson

 

Dawes — 

Deandre Beckford

Amirat Oladimeji

 

Dewey — 

Shayla Hunt

Jordell Muganwa

 

King Arts — 

Yoel Bahta

Adanna Chira

 

Kingsley — 

Ella Copeland

Caleb Lemond

 

Lincoln — 

London Bell

Ryleigh Simmons

 

Lincolnwood

Jameelah Ajasa

Jaylin “JJ” McCray

 

Oakton

Yohanni Johnson

Inala Perlow-Myles

 

Orrington — 

Imma Millner

Dushawn Thomas

 

Walker — 

Miles Henry

Kya Wilkins

 

Washington — 

Andrea Gaul

Jarrell Todd

 

Willard — 

Kaliyah Hutchinson

Ethan Matthews