 Iris Malcolm Memorial AwardThe Newmarket African Caribbean Canadian Association is pleased to announce that Natacia Gifford is this year’s recipient of the prestigious Iris Malcolm Memorial Award.
Natacia is an outstanding student who, despite challenging circumstances, inspires us all with her passion for empowering youth and serving her community with incredible devotion. We are excited to support Natacia in achieving her academic and professional goals. Renowned American poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist Maya Angelou tells us “if you're going to live, leave a legacy. Make a mark on the world that can't be erased.” Iris Malcolm was a woman of Jamaican-Canadian descent who exemplified the quiet resistance and forward thinking of Black women in Canada who took on the challenge of raising a family in an environment where discriminatory mechanisms compounded by social and economic stratification placed limits on their aspirations. Undeterred, she persevered, creating her own blue print, putting her stamp on the future by leaving a legacy where the pursuit of academic excellence and the advancement of her community was instilled in her children and grandchildren through the unwavering strength of her character. She made her mark by not only providing the next generation with roots, she also gave them wings. SUPERIOR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, LEADERSHIP AND MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS RECOGNIZED WITH NACCA SCHOLARSHIPThe Newmarket African Caribbean Canadian Association is honoured to announce the recipients of the 2020 NACCA Scholarships. This scholarship supports outstanding students who are entering their first year of post-secondary studies, with NACCA providing up to $1,500 for tuition costs. The seven outstanding scholars will undertake post-secondary education in fields such as Science, Child and Youth Care, Commerce, Human Rights and Diversity and Engineering.
“When community members came together in 2018 to discuss how we could build a firm foundation for the next generation” recalls NACCA’s Chairperson Jerisha Grant-Hall, “it was abundantly clear that we wanted to build a legacy of high academic achievement and empowerment for Black youth. Our desire was to foster a profound sense of pride in claiming their Black identity. We wanted our young people to be deeply rooted in their birthright which is full knowledge of African industry, art, sciences, math, literature, culture and its profound influence on the world we have come to know.” These scholars are exceptional students and leaders who not only support and inspire their peers but also exemplify academic excellence and service in the broader community. They also demonstrate a strong capacity for leadership into the future. This award not only recognizes what they have already achieved, but opens the door for them to build on, and share more widely, their leadership and pursuit of excellence. “We could not be more proud of these incredible young people who through hard work, perseverance, determination and grit navigated the spaces and places they occupied, becoming leaders, scholars and change makers who created positive outcomes for themselves and others,” says Grant-Hall The scholarship awards demonstrates NACCA’s commitment to supporting young people and creating opportunities for the community to flourish. Congratulations to this year’s recipients of the NACCA Scholarship: · Julius Adu · Tristan Bethune · Natacia Gifford · Ziphion Grant-Bobb · Elijah Gyansa · Adelaide Swanston · Monique Thompson |
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