Out & About: WCCC honors African American high school students

Shirley McMarlin
Monday, March 2, 2020 12:01 a.m. | Monday, March 2, 2020 12:01 a.m.

Go Ad-Free Today!

Kim Stepinsky | For the Tribune-Review

From left: Valley High School honorees Vaun Ross, athletics; Hanna Clarke, academics; Ayame Hayden, community service; and Adam Richardson, performing arts, at the African American High School Achievement Awards Ceremony and Reception, Feb. 25 at Westmoreland County Community College Youngwood campus

Kim Stepinsky | For the Tribune-Review

Elijah M. Wilson (center), Mt. Pleasant High School Performing Arts Award recipient, with his parents Toni and Leslie Wilson, at the African-American High School Achievement Awards Ceremony and Reception, Feb. 25 at Westmoreland County Community College Youngwood campus.

Kim Stepinsky | For the Tribune-Review

Sydney Beeler (left), WCCC vice president, Enrollment Management, with guest speaker Adriel A. Hilton, Seton Hill University dean of students and diversity officer, at the African-American High School Achievement Awards Ceremony and Reception, Feb. 25 at Westmoreland County Community College Youngwood campus.

Kim Stepinsky | For the Tribune-Review

(From left) Westmoreland Black Awareness Committee member Cynthia Williamson with Jasmine C. Nicklow, Mt. Pleasant High School Community Service Award recipient, and her mother, April Shively, at the African-American High School Achievement Awards Ceremony and Reception, held Feb. 25 at Westmoreland County Community College Youngwood campus.

Kim Stepinsky | For the Tribune-Review

From left: Shaleena Garner, Greensburg Salem Academic Award recipient; Zachary Carroll, Greater Latrobe Performing Arts Award recipient; and Imani Sanders, Jeannette Athletic Award recipient

Kim Stepinsky | For the Tribune-Review

Banner Reed (third from left), Hempfield Area Performing Arts Award recipient, with his parents, Tracy and Jennifer Reed, and sister, Willow Reed

A group of distinguished high school students and their guests heard a message titled, “Believe, Succeed, Dream,” during the annual African American High School Achievement Awards Ceremony and Reception, held Feb. 25 in the impressive new Student Achievement Center on the Westmoreland County Community College Youngwood campus.

Guest speaker Adriel A. Hilton, Seton Hill University dean of students and diversity officer, spoke about a group of noteworthy African Americans with Pennsylvania ties, whose names are not necessarily well-known but who nevertheless “believed in themselves and worked hard to achieve their dreams.”

Hilton’s Pennsylvania pantheon included Civil War veteran Ephraim Slaughter, singer Marian Anderson and photographer Charles “Teenie” Harris, among others.

Hilton was introduced by Carlotta Paige, a member of the Westmoreland Black Awareness Committee and co-founder of the Westmoreland Diversity Coalition.

Students were nominated by their school counselors for honors in academics, athletics, community service and performing arts. Honorees included:

• Greater Latrobe: Emilee Mottle and Zachary Carroll

• Greensburg Salem: Kaley Lazere, Shaleena Garner, Jalen Page, Zachary Galdo and Wade Spruill-McCoy

• Hempfield Area: Makayla Harr, Alexis Tshibaka and Banner Reed

• Jeannette: Jada Bass, Imani Sanders and Daizha Kozinko

• Kiski Area: Mason Clayton

• Monessen: Daija Grogan, Dawayne Howell and Rayna Winston

• Mt. Pleasant: Niesha Patton and Elijah Wilson

• Mt. Pleasant/Central Westmoreland Career and Technology Center: Jasmine Nicklow

• Norwin: Nia Armstrong and Genesis Nelson

• Norwin/CWCTC: Kiaura Vargo

• Valley: Hanna Clarke, Vaun Ross, Ayame Hayden and Adam Richardson.