The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
AREA STUDENTS RECEIVE HONORS
NAACP and NMOE Students receive scholarships from Academic standouts look forward to future of leadership and service
NORRISTOWN » Thirteen students from Norristown area schools garnered well-deserved accolades from the community at the 10th Annual Greater Norristown NAACP Future Leaders Scholarship presentation at Mt. Zion AME Church, Tuesday evening.
Each of them earned the honor through their unique talents, diligence, indomitable family support and commitment to making a difference.
Emceed by Ernest Hadrick Jr., whose wife Bonita Kent Hadrick founded the scholarship, the ceremony focused on the achievements of the young beneficiaries and their plans for the future.
Stewart Middle School students Junior Assamba and Kathryn Griffin; East Norriton Middle School students Kingsley Udesbunam and Taylor Conklin; and Eisenhower Science and Technology Leadership Academy students Ayana Lyons Perry and Ted Mensah, joined Norristown Area High School seniors; SabriaTamir Alston, Zaria WillisBoggs, Tovyanah Wright, Jonae Cook, Joshua Butler, Hannah Griffin and Quinton Turner in receiving more than $2,000 in scholarships from the NAACP and the Norristown Men of Excellence.
The students in attendance displayed a wide range of interests and have excelled academically and athletically, in addition to serving the community. They were
supported at the ceremony by family members, teachers, friends and school administrators.
Many of the middle school students — who were required to write essays to be eligible for the scholarship — are members of the National Junior Honor Society and are slated to start high school taking accelerated and advanced placement classes. The high school students, many of whom had received the scholarship prior to their freshmen years, had achieved major accomplishments:
Cook won a state championship in the 100-meter dash this spring with a time of 12 seconds flat, and Butler went his entire school career, from 1st grade to 12th, without missing a day.
Alston won the scholarship for the most improved student, an honor Hadrick hailed with special significance because of his personal experience overcoming academically and the hard work it takes to get better.
All of the seniors are college bound.
“When we were kids they did not celebrate academic excellence in our community. They celebrated the athletes,” said Greater Norristown NAACP President John Milligan in closing remarks to the recipients.
“But if you look down the road and you really look at the people who are driving our communities, who are creating the jobs, they are the young people you saw here tonight.
“This is what we need to be celebrating. And I say to you young people...You’re going to be leaders in our community. We’re going to be watching you and people like the Men Of Excellence are going to be there to support you and mentor you.”