2022 John C. Holland Awards winners

Hamilton Black History Council, in partnership with TD, presented the 26th Annual Reverend John C Holland Awards online on June 18, 2022.

With a record number of nominees this year, the organization awarded 16 scholarships and bursaries and recognized dozens of nominees through Spirit Awards aligned with the event's theme: UMOJA: Connect, Empower, Unify.

Student awards

General Achievement Award (sponsored by Ross McBride LLP)

David Akintola is a grade 12 student who is an active member of his school community. He initiated the Black History Month Committee at Bishop Tonnos, where he highlighted books by Black authors. Additionally, he was a Summer Camp Leader at Peoples Church and played tenor saxophone on his school's band for the past two years. David has consistently been an honour roll recipient throughout highschool and was named the Prodigal Sonz Battle of the Boards Tournament All-star for his skills on the basketball court.

General Achievement Award (sponsored by McMaster Political Science)

Christina Benson has been involved in her school communities, using the arts as a tool to engage and connect with others. She was a member of her school's improv club and acted in the Wizard of Oz production. Christina also gave back by filming plays for the school's football team. Christina was awarded the Village Theatre Thespian Waterdown Acting Award in 2021 which is given to a student who demonstrates excellence in theatre arts. Additionally, her academic excellence resulted in her being an honour roll recipient in 2020.

General Achievement Award (sponsored by McMaster Political Science)

Eliza Ritchie is a well-rounded student, who has been involved in several community initiatives. During her time at Warriors for Wellness, where she organized a food drive for families in need. Eliza also co-founded EcoWarriers, a club to encourage environmentalism in her school, where she organized events including litter clean-ups, upcycling, and establishing a pollinator garden. Additionally, she was the editor of The Sequitur, the Westdale School newspaper. Eliza also excels academically and athletically, as demonstrated by being an honour role recipient, representing Westdale for the cros-scountry team at OFSAA, and pre-qualifying for her Black belt in Karate.

General Achievement Award

(Sponsored by Hamilton Chamber of Commerce)

Noah Faulknor is an extremely deserving and giving youth, who has been an honour roll recipient for 3 consecutive years. He volunteers at Kiwani's Boys and Girls Club - Skate to Dream, where he teaches underserved children how to skate and play hockey. Additionally, he is a math tutor to students, where he helps to simplify complex concepts to develop their understanding. Noah is also a Co-Op student for the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program and Experiential Learning, where he contributes a youth-perspective to learning materials and resources for teachers.

Nelson Mandela Social Justice Scholarship

(Sponsored by Gowling WLG)

Adeola Egbeyemi is a Arts and Science student at McMaster University who has continuously advocated for social justice issues. She co-founded MacDivest in 2020 and is currently a program coordinator for the group. In her role, she raises awareness about climate justice actions that can be taken at the university levels, and has pushed McMaster to become fossil-fuel-free. Additionally, she is the Arts and Science representative for the McMaster Student Representative Assembly (SRA), the largest governing body of the McMaster Student Union. Here, she drafts motions for her constituents to implement changes they wish to see in the Union. She is also the editor of PITCH Magazine, which is dedicated to promoting Black expression through visual art. Adeola has been awarded the SRA member of the year award for her exceptional engagement, passion, and leadership in her SRA role.

Audre Lorde Scholarship

(Sponsored by Ruth Cameron)

Lerissa-Lynae Mowatt contributes to her community through volunteering and music. She volunteered as a Youth Leader at the SPACE Youth Centre, where she helped facilitate conversations with other youth and facilitated community among LQBTQ+ and BIPOC students. Additionally, she initiated and planned an AIDS awareness event at her school. As a co-opo student at Dalewood Middle School, she supported staff and youth as a music and special needs teaching assistant. Lerissa-Lynae is an accomplished musician, acting as the lead violinist, lead alto sax, conductor, and organizer for the Jr Orchestram Chamber Orchesta, Jr and Sr Repertoire Band, Sr Jazz Vand and Symphonic Orchestra. She has been awarded the Westdale SHSM Arts and Culture Award for her outstanding performance and leadership within the arts and co=op program, the Band Subject Award for her notable performance and leadership within the Westdale Repertoire Band, and was on the Dram's List at Mohawk for maintaining a GPA above 85%.

Tune In Foundation Bursary

(Sponsored by Tune-In Foundation)

Ruth Masuka is a student at the University of Toronto who has used the arts to inspire others. Since January 2021, she has volunteered at Matthew House Toronto, a refugee shelter and legal education centre supporting asylum seekers who come to Canada. Additionally, Ruth created a short film for the TIFF Next Wave Festival about community, identity and nostalgia through the migrant experience rooted in Ethiopian communities. She has also worked at the Art Gallery of Ontario, curating studio tours of emerging artists in the Hamilton community. This work has been grounded in deconstructing notions of elitism and power hierarchies with art and accessibility to creative spaces. She was recently awarded the University of Toronto Student Leadership Aard for her contributions to her community. Additionally, she received the Donald Ainslie Leadership Award in May 2021, which celebrates students' extracurricular and cocurricular leadership to the university community while maintaining high academic standing. In November of 2020 she received the Hamilton Community Foundation Chaney-Ensign Bursary that supports students' education and recognizes contributions to the Hamilton community.

Dr. Ethilda Tilly" Johnson - Business/Entrepreneurship Bursary (sponsored by May-Marie Duwai Sowa)

Jalen Collins-Reid is a natural student leader who is interested in pursuing a Business degree. Under the Boys and Girls Club LeadUP program, he was a part of leading his youth group to implement community action projects to impact our neighbourhood, one of which was donating skating equipment to the Skate The Dream program which provided low barrier, no-cost access skating lessons to children who wanted to learn to play hockey. He was also a member of the Junior Boys Basketball team in 2020, and the Varsity Football Team in 2021. Jalen received the Boys and Girls Club Volunteer Appreciation Award, which acknowledged the volunteer work he contributed from 2018-2020. Additionally, he was named to the Honour Roll in 2020-2021 for his academic excellence.

Evelyn Myrie Political Action Bursary (sponsored by MP Matthew Green)

Esther Sowunmi is the co-founder of the Saints Against Racism Student Group at her school, an anti-racism group that informs and empowers students and staff. Additionally, she has volunteered with the Child Evangelism Fellowship as a summer missionary, and as a peer tutor, assisting junior students in completing their assignments. She has been named to the Honour Roll throughout her high school (2018-2022), and received the CT Lowe Award in 2021, given to one student from each grade is who achieves the highest point total in their grade for participation in extracurricular activities within the school and has a 71% or higher in their year-end marks.

Girls Rock Scholarship (sponsored by YWCA)

Malikca Lawrence is a third-year Arts and Science student at McMaster University. Malikca has volunteered as an academic mentor in the Homework Circle Program with Empowerment Squared, a charity organization located in Hamilton that offers various programs to assist newcomer, marginalized and/or refugee youth in the community. Her passion for mentorship drove her to become a mentor for the Black Student Mentorship Program, a community-driven program created by the African-Caribbean Faculty Association of McMaster to support Black undergraduate and graduate students. Malikca is the Vice President of Events for Blackspace McMaster, a club at McMaster that was designed to empower, support and connect students who identify as Black women. As a VP of Events, she collaborates with the rest of the team to create enjoyable events that cater to the lives of Black women on campus. Malikca was named to the McMaster Dean's List for the 2020-2021 school year and was awarded the McMaster Honour Award in 2020. Additionally, she was recently featured in the McMaster Silhouette article titled Black students for Black students: Creating spaces to thrive in 2022 and beyond. The articled featured the extra-curricular work she has done this year with McMaster's Black and Caribbean clubs on campus.

Community Matters Scholarship (sponsored by United Steelworkers Hamilton and Area Council)

Judeny Belizaire had demonstrated a spirit of community matters" through their extensive volunteer record. From an early age, she has participated in programs that emphasize the importance of serving their local community. Judeny volunteers as a Baha'i children's class teacher working to promote unity and support the foundation of a bright future for children. She also volunteers at the Homework Help Club, and the Junior Youth Empowerment Program. Judeny has been named MVP for their contributions to the Tack, Volleyball, and Basketball teams, was the Sr. Girls volleyball team captain, and was named to honour roll for her entire high school career.

Lincoln M. Alexander Breaking Down Barriers Scholarship (sponsored by Beeksma Law)

Anu Popoola is a third-year student in the Health Sciences program at McMaster University. She has volunteered as a mentor at Empowerment Squared, where she worked with marginalized, newcomer, and refugee youth to support them in developing literacy skills, problem-solving skills, and building self-confidence in their abilities. Additionally, she was a mentor for the black Student Mentorship Program at McMaster, where she coordinated with a team of 6 undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty members, and the Black Student Success Centre to carry out programming to cultivate a community of support for Black students at McMaster. She also worked with the Black Health Alliance to develop culturally relevant public health messaging surrounding COVID-19 for Black communities in Toronto; led community focus groups to gauge the needs and priorities of Black community members during COVID-19 recovery, and helped organize a virtual GTAH-wide town hall with Black doctors to address vaccine hesitancy within the Black community. Anu was awarded the Bachelor of Health Science Scholarship for her contributions to the Hamilton community, and the Tom Martin Scholarship given to two exceptional students in STEM.

Marlene A.S. Thomas Community Advocacy Scholarship (sponsored by Hamilton Black History Council)

Thelia Badoana is the co-founder of the uKnighted Against Racism Committee at her school, through which she has fought against racism and discrimination by spreading awareness, educating her school community, and improving her school environment. Additionally, she assisted in organizing her Halloween 4 Hunger food drive, and volunteers at the Beth Eden Community Church. She was named to Honour Roll for the 2020-2021 school year and received the Micheal Mink Award from the Catholic Education Foundation of Ontario for founding uKnighted Against Racism.

Raymond G. Lewis Sports Leadership Scholarship (sponsored by Mount Olive Lodge #1)

Martin Ndebay is an accomplished Soccer and Track and Field athlete with a strong community volunteer record. He was invited to be a part of SHAD Canada, a competitive national program that looks for youth that are curious, resilient, and risk takers to prepare them to take on social and economic challenges. Additionally, he assisted in organizing the We Scare Hunger food drive, and volunteered at the Catholic Youth Organization where he interacted with youth through basketball and refereeing. Martin was awarded the Director's Award in 2020, which is awarded to the top 4 students with the highest marks in each grade. Additionally, she was an honour roll recipient for his entire high school career and was nominated for the Student Athlete award in 2020 for his demonstrated leadership on several sports teams.

Reverend George Horton Law Enforcement Scholarship (sponsored by Hamilton Community News)

Kaileez Joseph is an inspiring entrepreneur who hopes to establish her own law firm in the future. She received the Academic Proficient Award, given to two females and males in each grade with the highest averages. Additionally, she was named to honour roll in both 2020 and 2021. She was nominated as the Jr. Female Athlete of the Year for her exceptional academic abilities. She is an active member of her community, volunteering at basketball tournament and helping those in her local community by shovelling driveways.

Immigrants Matter Scholarship (sponsored by Olukunle Adetunji)

Omolade George immigrated to Canada from Nigeria in June of 2018 and in such a short time embodied the spirit of immigrants matter." She has made a positive impact on her community by volunteering with the Green Ventures of Hamilton, where she educated participants about environmentalism. Additionally, she volunteered for the McMaster Children Hospital, making colouring pages for children who were patients. Two years ago, she decided to use her social media platforms to spread awareness and educate her followers on the murder of unarmed Black people in her community; the ignored disasters happening in African countries and ways to help and become allies to the communities. Omolade was named to the Honour Roll in 2020 for her academic achievements and received special recognition by the principal of Cathedral high school for her volunteer efforts.

CONNECT AWARDS

Madison Gaudet

Roldin Pabs-Garnon

Peace Agada

Eliza Ritchie

Samrawit Mulugeta

Bob Morais

Jaymee Somerton

Jeannette Nanteguza

Vircky Dorceus

DeEmetrius Masuka

Koailoach Keak

Jakayla Douse

Omolade George

Jalen Collins-Reid

Judeny Belizaire

Thelia Badoana

Ruth Masuka

Noah Faulknor

EMPOWER AWARDS

Aishat Raifu

Amber Carroll

Malaika Hines

Ellycea Burke

Obaro Enuekwe-Krubu

Ashanti Allen

Tiyana Kandolo

Cora Lynn Marcelin

Casey Yanga

Amari-Lee Reid

Darius Bell

Lerissa-Lynae Mowatt

Adeola Egbeyemi

Lawrence

Anuoluwa (Anu) Popoola

Christina Benson

UNITY AWARDS

David Akintola

Tianne Lewis

Ranya Oumar Issa

Abdirahman (Abdi) Aden

Olivia Ahing

Ariyanna Lee

Salsabil Sarhan

Salaamat Toure

Imani Washington

Samrawit Mulugeta

Jenna Harris

Craig Mwangi

Zinachika Agbassi

Martin Ndebay

Esther Sowunmi

Adult awards:

Award of Merit - To an individual, institution or organization, within the Black Community who, in the opinion of the HBHC, has rendered meritorious and outstanding service at the local, provincial or national levels.

• Judge Rochelle Ivri

Vince Morgan Ally Award - To an individual, institution or organization in the City of Hamilton who, in the opinion of the HBHC, has rendered meritorious and outstanding support to the Black community.

• Councillor Nrinder Nann

Arts and Culture Award: (In Memory of the late Jackie Washington)

Awarded to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in the arts.

• stylo starr