Recognizes Those Who Make A Difference
Queens Borough President Helen Marshall presented African American Heritage Awards last Thursday, Feb. 23 to outstanding high school seniors and individuals who have made a difference in their communities.
The award ceremony was held at Jamaica Performing Arts Center, located at 153rd Street and Jamaica Avenue.
For the past 10 years, the borough president has co-sponsored the event with her African American Heritage Month Committee, which includes: Roslin Spigner of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Queens Chapter; Andrew Jackson, director of the Langston Hughes Library and Cultural Center; Ray Perez of Citibank, Mark Haken, the community liaison for Assemblyman Rory Lancman; William Briggs of the Youth & Tennis organization, Cedric Dew of the Jamaica YMCA; Harbachan Singh of the Queens General Assembly; and Anita Segarra of the Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning.
“Working together, we can recog- nize in a public way the contributions by everyday individuals who make Queens a great place to live, work and play,” said the borough president.
Student winners at last Thursday’s award ceremony answered questions about advanced college placement, honors classes, extracurricular activities, volunteer and community service, as well as internship experience.
Each of the top four scholarship winners will receive $1,000 and the runner-up will receive $500 towards college tuition.
Among the 2012 sponsors of last Thursday’s event were Citibank, Con Edison, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Queens Chapter and Haken.
The 2012 scholarship winners were:
– Melissa Bharat, a student at Martin Van Buren High School in Queens Village, who has interned with the National Park Service;
– Ayana Cole-Price, a student at St. Agnes Academic High School in College Point, who founded “Empower My Hood,” which informs inner-city students about the college application process;
– Antwan Douglas, a student at the Queens High School for Information Research and Technology in Far Rockaway, who overcame personal tragedy through reading skills;
– Venetia Persaud, a student at Martin Van Buren High School, who created a presentation on the Panama Canal that has been shown at the Theodore Roosevelt House; and
– Hakeem Rowe, a student at Martin Van Buren High School, who participated in a Cultural Exchange program that was sponsored by Carnegie Hall.
Achievement Award winners are:
– Archie Spigner, winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award for his 27 years as a City Council member from southeast Queens, where he helped to improve business districts, neighborhood housing and educational facilities;
– Kenrick Jobe, winner of the Business Award and President of Jobe Development Corporation, which builds affordable one and twofamily homes, revitalizing communities and creating job opportunities;
– Cathy Mickens, winner of the Civic Award and Executive Director of Neighborhood Housing Services of Jamaica, which works to assist residents and homeowners with the purchase and retention of their homes;
– Avionne Gumbs, winner of the Education Award and principal of the Young Women’s Leadership School, which works to instill in students a sense of community, responsibility and ethical behavior in an effort to create tomorrow’s leaders; and
– Pastor Robert Lowe, winner of the Cultural Award for his work at the Mount Moriah AME Church, Worship and Arts Ministries, where he uses the performing arts to present life lessons.
The Borough President’s Achievement Award was given to Deborah Carney, deputy director of the New York City Planning Department in Queens.
