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Evanston Township High School virtually hosted the 25th annual African-American Youth Achievement (AAYA) Awards to honor 38 African-American students from Evanston/Skokie public schools. Students were recognized in a virtual ceremony on March 16 for their daily actions that pay homage to the visions and legacy of African-American pioneers. Through initiative and perseverance, each awardee has excelled in character, civility, community service, leadership, scholarship or sportsmanship.
The AAYA program is part of a Black History Month initiative and was sponsored by the Ivy Pearl Foundation, Byline Bank, Chessmen, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Joe “Butch” Martin Foundation, McGaw YMCA, NAACP, Northwestern University, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Shorefront, Gerri Sizemore, and Soul Creations, in conjunction with Evanston/Skokie School District 65 and Evanston Township High School District 202.
2022 high school AAYA recipients:
Evanston Township High School
Grade 12: Baylor Diamond and Samarah Reid
Grade 11: Aleighah Dogan and Cameron Wellington-Knibbs
Grade 10: Joseph Tyler Williams Salgado and Nyeima York
Grade 9: Jessica Fanfan and Jeylan Robertson
2022 middle school AAYA recipients:
Chute: Satthapi Miller and Spencer Obiri
Haven: Miles Lyons and Leah Silas
Nichols: Nina Simone Cattouse and Jeff Thomas
2022 elementary and magnet school AAYA recipients:
Bessie Rhodes: Xavier Roache and Jazmyn White-Pratt
Dawes: Hann Lissa Blaise and Kameron Owen
Dewey: Kyle Henderson and Shaheri Henry
King Arts: Josephine Bostic and Ezekiel Whitehead
Kingsley: Khaliyah DeSavieu
Lincoln: Shia Campbell and Reza Thibodeaux
Lincolnwood: Chayce Bowers and Nielle Watts
Oakton: Eden Beaucicot
Orrington: Jada Gilcrease and Issa Kamangila
Walker: Nia Henderson and Iliass Kaltimi
Washington: Simone Hewitt and Jaiden Wilson
Willard: Elijah Neal and Makenna Speight