Rising Stars: 16 Students Awarded Scholarships by African Caribbean Council of Halton

Hamilton Spectator

a day ago

On May 23, the African Caribbean Council of Halton (ACCH) held their third annual Black Excellence Scholarship Awards and Fundraising event.
The ACCH is a non-profit organization whose aim is to strengthen and empower the African Caribbean community through political and educational advocacy, and collaboration with other community groups. Scholarships, like the ones given out last Friday to graduating students who met the ACCH's criteria, are another empowerment tool the group uses.
The award is open to students of African, Caribbean, and Black descent. Students must attend a high school in Halton and have been accepted to a post-secondary institution.
According to the ACCH website, students are also expected to be involved in community work and the Black History Month initiative. Recipients are expected to mentor other students, volunteer, and be ambassadors of the community.
Sixteen awards were given out, seven for Halton District School Board (HDSB) students and nine for Halton Catholic District School Board (HCDSB) students.
The event was held at Burlington's Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School and was attended by many dignitaries, including politicians, a Halton Regional Police Service officer, and both school board directors.
The ceremony was held in the school gym, with tables and chairs set up for guests. A Jamaican dinner was prepared for attendees, which was served after the scholarships were handed out. Students also walked around with a QR code on their phones, which enabled attendees to donate to the ACCH.
Adejisola B. H. Atiba (also known as Lady ABHA), founder and board chair, spoke first at the event and talked about the importance of nurturing our youth.
'We always say our students are our future,' Atiba said. 'But they are only our future if we invest in them today.'
Atiba also spoke about how valuable time is and quoted an African proverb about asking for help. 'Time is your most precious currency,' Atiba said. 'It doesn't wait. It doesn't pause, and you can't rewind it. How you use it determines what you become.'
'Lean on your mentors, your teachers, and your elders,' Atiba continued. 'Seeking guidance is a strength. If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.'
Atiba finished with an analogy to guide students going forward. 'Time is your seed, mentorship is your soil, and intentional living is how you bloom,' Atiba said.
Edosa Adams-Idode, president of ACCH, spoke next and outlined the three pillars that, for her, make these awards essential.
'Ownership is number one,' Adams-Idode said. 'We cannot complain that our youths are not successful without a conducive and collaborative environment to recognize their hard work, leadership, and service of volunteerism, which is the bedrock of our Canadian values.'
'The second pillar is the link between student achievement and mentorship,' Adams-Idode continued. 'Where one is weak, the other is compromised. Without both, there can be no trust in our educational system. And finally, the last pillar is investing in our youth. That's where we look to the future with hope and confidence.'
Adams-Idode noted that she thinks this group of recipients will produce many MPs and the future prime minister.
Paul Sharman, Burlington Ward 5 councillor, followed with reflections on the rewards of public service, encouraging the students to consider careers rooted in empathy and community impact.
'The best career of all is being an elected official, because that way I can make contributions to the community,' Sharman said. 'And as you think about your careers, if you think about your empathy, doing good for the community, doing good for your families, and for your loved ones, that is the biggest gift you can give the world.'
Milton Regional Councillor Sammy Ijaz (Ward 3) reiterated the importance of time when he stepped up to the front of the room to speak.
'If you waste time today, at some point, time will waste you,' Ijaz said. 'That's not a promise, it's a commitment of time. If you do justice to time, time will do justice to you. But if you do injustice to time, time will catch up and then do injustice to you.'
Curtis Ennis, director of education for HDSB, urged the students never to let go of their dreams and emphasized the importance of perseverance.
'Never lose your dream,' Ennis said. 'Regardless of what anyone says, work hard, stick to it, and never lose your dream. You are going to be discouraged. You're going to find others who are trying to stop you, but never lose your dream because you, and you alone, along with the determination, the purpose, and the resilience that you have, determine where you end up.'
'When you are locked in, when you are focused, when you are determined, when you are committed, there is nobody or nothing that can stop you from becoming who you were created to be, absolutely nothing or no one,' Ennis continued. 'I believe that to my core, I believe that every single one of you here has a gift and a purpose that you must realize, and so do not be distracted.'
John Klein, director of education for HCDSB, drew on faith in expressing his hopes for the students' futures.
'There is a very old saying in the church that says, 'The glory of God is humanity, fully alive,'' Klein said. 'So I'd ask you to think about what it means to be fully alive for those that you encounter each and every day, how you honour them and how you respect them. And that's really my prayer and my hope for you.'
Ryan Smith, a staff sergeant for Halton police, spoke of the lasting impact the students will have on the community and how they will help shape Halton going forward.
'Don't lose the fact that you will have such a tremendous impact on this community for generations to come,' Smith said.
Effie Triantafilopoulos, MPP for Oakville North-Burlington, was not present at the event, but sent a video message that was played via projector. In it, Triantafilopoulos spoke about her continued involvement with the ACCH's work.
'As part of my commitment to the important work done by ACCH leaders, each summer I offer a job in my community office to one of the successful recipients and will be doing so again this summer,' Triantafilopoulos said. 'So, please contact ACCH if you're interested in better understanding how the Ontario government works.'
The following students were honoured with scholarships at the event: