Outstanding local black students honoured

Awards celebrate hard work and dedication of seven young people

CAMBRIDGE — Seven outstanding black students from Waterloo Region were honoured on Sunday at the 16th annual Awards of Excellence in Cambridge.

The event is hosted by the Waterloo Region chapter of the Congress of Black Women of Canada and the Caribbean Canadian Association of Waterloo Region and celebrates students’ achievements.

The keynote speaker was Waterloo Collegiate Institute graduate Dominic Bell, an articling student at the Crown law office of the Ministry of the Attorney General in Toronto.

Ontario Education Minister Mitzie Hunter sent a letter to be read out at the awards ceremony.

“Education is about more than just learning to read and write,” she said. “It is about ensuring that students have the support they need to gain the knowledge, skills and confidence to be successful and engaged citizens.” The award recipients are:

Brent Parke is transitioning from a full-time job as a carpenter to a career in human services. He graduated with top marks from a construction program at Conestoga College in 2013 and secured jobs in his field as a carpenter building decks and houses. He has now returned to college, taking human services. Parke, who has volunteered with the LINK Picnic Festival and many other events, plans to become a social worker.

Dane Allen has been accepted into the bachelor of business administration program at Conestoga. He has served as a referee with the Kitchener soccer club and helped manage the junior soccer team at Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute in Kitchener. He received ribbons at an Ontario track meet in the 100- and 400metre events. He is an avid volunteer at church and community events. His long-term goal is to own a business.

Makda Berihun is a graduate of Cameron Heights, where she was a respected leader on student council. She was on the honour roll every year. She was a key contributor to the school’s Black History Awareness Week and served as a mentor to Grade 10 students. She also managed the school’s basketball team for three years. She volunteers at the YMCA and at a local law firm as an assistant. She has been accepted into the social sciences program at the University of Toronto. Her goal is to become a criminal defence lawyer.

Kai Butterfield is in the honours bachelor of arts program at the University of Waterloo. Her strengths include the sociology of education and conflict resolution in schools. Through Frontier College’s homework program in Waterloo, she supported Somali newcomer youth in developing literacy and numeracy skills. She also taught English in Cambodia. An excellent creative writer, she is writing the draft of a children’s book to help young people learn about racism and privilege.

Avonae Gentles is a graduate of St. David Catholic Secondary School in Waterloo. She consistently excelled academically and participated fully in the spirit of the school. She earned certification in CPR and enrolled as a parttime student at the University of Waterloo. She has helped out with the Grand River Hospital Cancer Centre and the Reach Out and Care Missionary Movement. She has been accepted into the honours bachelor of science program at the University of Waterloo and aims to become a medical doctor.

Anika Williams-Hewitt is pursuing studies in the master of social work program at Wilfrid Laurier University. She is co-chair of the equity committee of the Faculty of Social Work at Laurier. She has worked at a 24-hour support line and as a summer student at the K-W Multicultural Centre. As an intern at the centre, she created a workshop series for newcomer youth who can feel they are heard and can gain inspiration from people of colour.

Tarin Charles has completed his first year of the bachelor’s degree program in history at Wilfrid Laurier University. As part of his course he visited Loiza, Puerto Rico, a historic Afro-Puerto Rican settlement to learn about the culture and how it fused African spirituality with Christianity. He enjoys writing, debating and analyzing old-world documents. He volunteered with the LINK Picnic Festival in 2015. His goal is to become a constitutional lawyer.