Borough President hosts Black History Month ceremony

Borough President Helen Marshall honored outstanding students, community leaders and organizations that have made a difference in the lives of others at the annual African American Heritage Month celebration held at Citibank in Long Island City. Nine thousand dollars in scholarships were awarded and achievements were recognized in many categories. This year’s scholarship winners were Awa Lamine Coulibaly, Teresa Johnson and Akindele Labake of Beach Channel High School; Vevica Gooden of Long Island City High School; Nicole Kelly of Information Technology High School; Oceana Porter and Jessica Quizhpi of Newtown High School; Samuel Reid of Grover Cleveland High School and Kelvin Smartt of Queens Vocational High School. Achievement Awards were presented to Kenneth Lewis for Business; Juliet Lewis for Civic; Kerri Edge for Cultural Individual; Quilt-N-Queens for Cultural Organization; Queens Educational Opportunity Center for Education; Edna Stewart for Lifetime Achievement and Jacqueline Arrington for a Special Recognition Award.