Trailblazer awards ceremony celebrates Concord students
ELKHART — The Elkhart Chapter of Indiana Black Expo and Concord High School hosted a Trailblazer Awards ceremony to honor 20 high school students who are performing well academically at Concord's Beickman Performing Arts Center.
'A lot of times African American students are only celebrated for athletics,' said Robert Taylor, president of the Elkhart Chapter of the Indiana Black Expo. 'Being able to celebrate them for the educational part of it really stands out especially with it being Black History Month.'
Taylor said this is the first year the Trailblazer Awards have taken place at Concord. It was the 11th year overall.
The awards ceremony celebrated five students from each of the four grade levels, ninth through 12th grade. Concord Senior Serena Poindexter received a $1,000 scholarship from the Elkhart Chapter of Indiana Black Expo. Half of the scholarship money was raised by Black Expo, while Taylor and his wife matched with the other $500.
Poindexter said she was shocked by the scholarship award.
'That's insane that I'm getting this scholarship,' Poindexter said. 'I'm so blessed and so incredibly grateful. It is just so crazy.'
Poindexter also said her plans after high school are to attend Indiana University South Bend and major in dental hygiene.
The awards ceremony started off with a welcome from Rebecca Roberts, who heads college and career readiness at Concord High School, and an introduction by Taylor. The group of students, guests, staff and administration were treated to a lunch, while Mayor Rod Roberson gave the keynote address to the students.
Roberson talked about the struggles and hardship his parents and grandparents faced in the segregated South and when he was growing up in Elkhart. He also talked about the importance of being excellent, an idea his parents instilled in him. He said he did not want just to be the first Black mayor of the city, but to be the best mayor the city has ever had.
'When you say Black history is American history, that's true,' Roberson said. 'Because the greatness that comes from inside of you is just part of the mosaic that helps America become America, helps Indiana become Indiana, and Elkhart become Elkhart. Our community is better because we have people who achieve at the level that they feel adds value to the excellence that they bring to it.'
Poindexter said the mayor's speech made her realize how grateful she is for not having faced discrimination and being welcomed in her diverse school environment.
The awards ceremony gave a special shoutout to individual Concord teachers and staff who contributed financially to the luncheon. Roberts Environmental Services LLC served as the corporate sponsor for the event.
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