Black Youth Honoured for Outstanding Achievement, Leadership and Community Commitment

NACCA Awards Over $28,000 in Scholarships to Regional Recipients (photo updated - July 3rd Ceremony)

Newmarket, ON – June 23, 2025
Twelve remarkable students from across York Region will be honoured this summer at the NewRoads Performing Arts Centre as recipients of the 2025 NACCA Scholarships and Awards, a celebration of academic excellence, leadership and unwavering commitment to community.

​In a time where vision and grounded leadership are more needed than ever, these youth have demonstrated not just scholastic strength, but a deep and authentic commitment to service, advocacy and collective upliftment. The awards, ranging from $1,500 to $5,000, support post-secondary studies in fields as diverse as Nursing, Psychology, Electrical Engineering, Studio Arts and Political Science.

Each recipient has also been honoured with an Adinkra symbol award, a recognition rooted in African tradition. These symbols reflect the character and legacy they bring into the world: Bravery, Wisdom, Hope, Unity and more. These are not just awards, they are acknowledgments of cultural inheritance and future leadership.

The 2025 honourees include:

• Malak E. (Political Science & International Relations) – Adinkra for Bravery
• Laurent K. (Business & Technology) – Adinkra for Wisdom
• Chisom A. (Health Sciences) – Adinkra for Reclamation
• Deborah M. (Behavioural Science) – Adinkra for Greatness
• Mackenzie J. (Business – Commerce) – Adinkra for Unity
• Uchechi E. (Nursing/Health Sciences/Bio-med) – Adinkra for Hope
• Reese J. (Nursing) – Adinkra for Perseverance
• Ava Dedier. (Studio Arts, Business) – Adinkra for Versatility
• Russell N. (Electrical Engineering) – Adinkra for Patience
• Jahbriela T. (Psychology) – Adinkra for Humility
• Chidera C. (Biomedical Sciences) – Adinkra for Endurance
• Chizitere N. (Kinesiology) – Adinkra for Steadfastness

“These young people remind us what excellence looks like when it is rooted in community, culture, and care,” says Jerisha Grant-Hall, Executive Director of the Newmarket African Caribbean Canadian Association (NACCA). “They are not only achieving for themselves, they are lifting as they climb. And that is the true heart of legacy.”

Each student’s journey is marked by innovative contributions: from leading grassroots food drives to mentoring Black youth, from using art to address mental health stigma to advocating for equity in science and tech spaces. This year’s awardees are scholars and community builders, changemakers and dreamers, already rewriting the future.

The Scholarship and Awards Ceremony will take place on Thursday, July 3, 2025, at 6:00 PM at the NewRoads Performing Arts Centre. Community members, supporters and families are invited to attend and celebrate these stories of self-determination and purpose. 

For more information or to contribute to NACCA’s scholarship fund, visit naccacommunity.ca/scholarships.