Students receive scholarships as historic event remembered
Photo By Tevin Stinson
Mikalah Muhammad, Treyandrea Farid and Tyler Davis following the commemoration ceremony dedicated to the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. The high school seniors will each receive $1,000 scholarships from the Emancipation Association later this year.
Local group commemorates Emancipation Proclamation
By Tevin Stinson
The Chronicle
The Emancipation Association kicked off the new year by providing $1,000 scholarships to three local high school seniors.
Each year on Jan. 1 the committee made up of community activists and retired and current educators holds a ceremony to recognize the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation and celebrate local youth for their hard work in the classroom by awarding scholarship funds to deserving students in the area.
This year’s recipients, Mikalah Muhammad, Tyler Davis, and Treyandrea Farid, were selected from a field of 42 applicants from various high school guidance counselors in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County.
According to committee representative Dr. Manderline Scales, students had to submit an application, a number of essays, and a letter of recommendation to be in the running for the scholarship. Scales mentioned it was a hard decision to make but in the end, the dedication to community outreach and volunteer work is what made the winners stand out.
“Not only are they outstanding students, all three of our scholarship recipients understand the importance of giving back to the community,” said Scales. “Even with their busy schedules they find the time to give back.”
Muhammad has been a member of the varsity basketball team at Atkins High School since she was a freshman. While chasing a state championship, she also finds time to participate in a number of boards and committees at Emmanuel Baptist Church, including Community Roots and a holiday grief counseling seminar to name a few.
Winston-Salem Preparatory Academy senior Treyandrea Farid serves as the president of the youth ministry and is a member of the nursing ministry at Waughtown Baptist Church.
Farid is also a student athlete and serves as the assistant athletic trainer for a number of teams at her school.
While maintaining a 4.7 grade point average and a part-time job at Arby’s, West Forsyth senior Tyler Davis still finds time to volunteer at the Salvation Army, the Special Olympics and participate in Crosby Scholars. Davis is also a member of a number of community outreach organizations at First Baptist Church.
The keynote speaker for this year’s event was Rev. Omar L. Dykes, pastor of St. John CME Church. A native of Chester, Pa., Dykes holds a B.A. degree in history from Miles College and a Master of Divinity degree from Phillips School of Theology at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Ga.
He has also received numerous awards from the religious community as well as other organizations. During his speech, Dykes said that during a time where anger and hatred seem to be the order of the day, citizens must rise up and come together as one.
“We are indeed our brother’s keeper,” said Dykes. “No matter how big the celebration, we must remember that there are still people in our community who are hungry. If we understand the power of community, we cannot sit in a palace while our neighbors lie in ruins.”
A number of local and state political figures including Mayor Allen Joines, N.C. Senator Rev. Dr. Paul Lowe, State Representative Evelyn Terry and Council Member Derwin Montgomery were in attendance during the commemoration ceremony and award presentation held at Morning Star Baptist Church.
Prior to the reading of the document signed during the Civil War by President Abraham Lincoln, Montgomery said although there were a number of factors that forced Lincoln to sign the document, it was born out of the right conditions.
“For me this is a time for reflection but a time for action as well,” he continued. “Today as well, look at the high rates of poverty and large gaps in education at institutions for our young people. What we need is for the right conditions to come together to force things to happen in our favor.
“Fredrick Douglass said there is no progress without struggle. So for us today,
we must make sure the struggle continues so that we can continue to see progress.” Montgomery said.
