Dozens of bursaries, scholarships handed out at 2025 John C. Holland Awards celebrating Black youth

A document 38 awards and scholarships had been handed out in the course of the 2025 Reverend John C. Holland Awards.

The occasion, which celebrates Black group achievements and contributions to Hamilton by Black youth, happened on Feb. 21.

Terri Bedminster​​​​​​, an govt on the Hamilton Black Historical past committee, stated there have been 100 shortlisted nominees with wide-ranging abilities and accomplishments.

“Kudos to the commencement coaches from various colleges, and to the lecturers, steering counsellors who did actually, rather well this 12 months to get the variety of purposes in,” Bedminster stated.

“There was an enormous group … an elevated help for college students to use.” 

Maya Ahmed, a 17-year-old pupil at Westmont Secondary Faculty, was awarded a youth achievement bursary, sponsored by the Hamilton Black Council. It is awarded to a pupil or college students who’ve made excellent tutorial or different societal achievements.

“They deemed me worthy of that, and I am very, very grateful for it, and I am grateful that my work towards serving to with social points was being acknowledged,” Maya advised CBC Hamilton.

Whereas she knew she had been nominated for an award, Maya stated she wasn’t actually anticipating to really win something. 

“When my title obtained referred to as … I used to be frozen, like, in shock… It was very stunning and I rushed towards the stage. It felt like I used to be simply transported to a fantasy land for a second there,” she stated.

“I am very, very grateful, particularly as a first-generation immigrant that desires to pursue research in legislation in a while and to turn out to be a lawyer. That is already such a giant milestone for me and the truth that the council deemed me worthy of such an award was so exhilarating.”

I am actually happy with her and I do know she has a really vivid future.– Mona Ali, Maya Ahmed’s mom

Maya’s mother, Mona Ali, stated she has “all the time, all the time made me proud since she was like a child, and when she obtained that award, I used to be crying and crying.”

“When she’s up on the stage, she stated, ‘I need to thank everybody and thank my mother.’ It [was special]. I am actually happy with her and I do know she has a really vivid future.”

Deborah Kenea, 17, was awarded the YWCA Hamilton Younger Girl – Trailblazer Scholarship, given to a younger girl pursuing research in a subject that carefully aligns to advancing ladies’s points. 

“I actually didn’t imagine I might win an award. I solely went for, like, the Instagram footage,” Deborah advised CBC Hamilton. 

“Once they referred to as my title, I checked out my mother and I stated that is me.” 

The Westmont Secondary Faculty pupil stated her plan after highschool is to enter research involving science, know-how, engineering and math (STEM). 

“Clearly there’s not a considerable amount of African ladies in there.”

Deborah has some phrases of encouragement for different youth: “At all times imagine in your self. You all the time have an opportunity and all the time strive your finest.”

Evelyn Myrie, who co-founded John C. Holland Awards with Marlene Thomas-Osbourne in 1996, stated it is necessary to encourage younger folks to interact in social change with the long-term aim of making a greater society. 

“It is necessary that we encourage younger folks to take up the mantle and to actually to not be silent within the face of atrocities,” stated Myrie, president of the Afro Canadian Caribbean Affiliation.

An award in her title — the Evelyn Myrie Political Motion Bursary — was offered to David Feboke.

“He is a promising younger one who has finished work round social justice and I am inspired by him,” Myrie stated. “I will be having lunch with him quickly to speak about how else I might assist mentor him on this function.” 

Son of man who died after police taking pictures will get scholarship

Garry Kabera, the son of Erixon Kabera, who died after being shot by Hamilton police in November, was awarded a scholarship in the course of the ceremony.

Garry stated he is “deeply honoured” to obtain the scholarship.

“Your help for college students in STEM means a lot, and I’m actually grateful,” he stated.

“I additionally need to thank my mother, my brothers and my steering counsellor for his or her unwavering help. Above all, I give glory to God, the inspiration of my household’s religion and values.”

Bedminster stated it was heartwarming to see Garry was chosen for a scholarship, and pointed to “the necessity to proceed to look after our Black youth and empower them.”

“It actually drove residence the should be a caring group as a result of many of those youths have their very own points or have their very own issues that they are coping with that we do not learn about,” she stated. 

“We choose them by their purposes, however this is simply a lot extra that is related to a child and the appliance, and it is actually simply necessary that we present up as a group to help the entire individual and the entire household.”

This is the complete checklist of winners:

• Crystal Kerr: Neighborhood Service Award.
• Monique Smith: Enterprise Achievement Award.
• Dejehan Luckystickz Hamilton: Jackie Washington Arts & Tradition Award.
• Ines Rehabe El-Hajjami: Youth Award, Basic Achievement Bursary.
• Angelique Lewis-Robinson: Youth Award, Basic Achievement Bursary.
• Jessica Agbolade: Youth Award, Basic Achievement Bursary.
• Zoe Patterson: Youth Award, Basic Achievement Bursary.
• Honobienne Bolumbu: Youth Award, Basic Achievement Bursary.
• Seretta Goulbourne: Youth Award, Basic Achievement Bursary.
• Oritseweyinmi Okun: Youth Award, Basic Achievement Bursary.
• Ayotunde Kehinde: Youth Award, Basic Achievement Bursary.
• Marie Njoroge: Youth Award, Basic Achievement Bursary.
• Shanya Samuel: Youth Award, Basic Achievement Bursary.
• KJ Gilling: Youth Award, Basic Achievement Bursary.
• Daniel Bosede: Youth Award, Basic Achievement Bursary.
• Chioma Nwosu: Youth Award, Basic Achievement Bursary.
• Opemipo Oluwasola: Youth Award, Basic Achievement Bursary.
• Trevor Monroe. Youth Award, Basic Achievement Bursary.
• Azarielle Tonfack Tankoua: Youth Achievement Bursary.
• Olivia Whitman: Youth Achievement Bursary.
• Isaac Lewis: Youth Achievement Bursary.
• Maya Ahmed: Youth Achievement Bursary.
• Grace Tra-Lou: Youth Achievement Bursary.
• Omolade George: Marlene Thomas Neighborhood Advocacy Bursary.
• Michael Marlon Smallwood: Dr. Ethilda ‘Tilley’ Johnson Enterprise/Entrepreneurship Bursary
• Oluwafikunayomi Alabi: Immigrants Matter Bursary.
• David Feboke: Evelyn Myrie Political Motion Bursary.
• Nathan Palmer: Tune-In Basis Bursary. 
• Garry Kabera: Youth Achievement Scholarship.
• Anisa Marie Roye: Audre Lorde Scholarship.
• Deborah Kenea: YWCA Hamilton Younger Girl — Trailblazer Scholarship.
• Oluwatimisola Toyon: Nelson Mandela Social Justice Scholarship.
• Mya Locke: Good Shepherd Well being and Social Service Scholarship.
• Eugenie Kaberuka: Reverend George Horton Scholarship.
• Therand Man: Lincoln Alexander Breaking Down Limitations Scholarship. 
• Isis Seaton: Hamilton Steelworkers Space Council Neighborhood Issues Scholarship. 
• Sophia McCulloch: Raymond G. Lewis Sports activities Management Scholarship .
• Christianna Olokesusi: The Damptey Scholarship for Civic Management.
• Ayomide Abraham: STEM Scholarship.
• Joshua Persaud: Ainara Alleyne Rising Star Award.  

For extra tales concerning the experiences of Black Canadians — from anti-Black racism to success tales inside the Black group — take a look at Being Black in Canada, a CBC challenge Black Canadians could be happy with. You can read more stories here.