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Fifty-seven middle and high school students from Somerset and Hunterdon counties were honored for their achievements at the 27th Annual Paul Robeson Youth Achievement Awards Reception, held April 6 at Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) in Branchburg.

The evening featured a keynote address by Dr. Gloria Boseman, PhD, RN, who has been delivering healthcare services to the underserved and underrepresented urban communities for more than 30 years. Her work has focused on urban health and lifestyle behaviors.

The National Council of Negro Women and RVCC initiated the Paul Robeson Youth Achievement Awards program to pay tribute to the outstanding attainments of students in the two counties. The awards are named in honor of Paul Robeson, a Princeton native who grew up in Somerville and graduated from Somerville High School and Rutgers University. The awards, sponsored by the Paul Robeson Institute for Ethics, Leadership and Social Justice at RVCC, were given in four areas in which Robeson excelled: Scholarship, the Arts, Community Service and Athletics. Other honors include special “Renaissance Awards” given to students who excel in a number of disciplines, and the Paul Robeson Literary Award.

The Mrs. Evelyn Field Visionary Award also was presented. The award pays tribute to the founding member of the RVCC Board of Trustees who was a dynamic and compassionate advocate for promoting diversity and equality on campus. In 1990 Mrs. Field established the Paul Robeson Youth Achievement Program to preserve Paul Robeson’s legacy as a role model for excellence.

The 57 students were nominated for awards by their guidance counselors, teachers and administrators. A special committee of RVCC faculty and administrators selected the award recipients. The following high school students were honored:

Community Service Award
Madison Hill-Glover
Somerset County Vocational and Technical High School

Giovanni Stewart
Franklin High School

Renaissance Award
Faizah Holmes
North Hunterdon Regional High School

Taylor Singleton
Somerville High School

Scholarship Award
Yadah Ampofo
Voorhees High School

Alyssa Wells-Lewis
Franklin High School

Athletics Award
Stuart Cundiff
Immaculata High School

Mekhi Lewis
Bound Brook High School

Arts Award
Jadon Melecio
Franklin High School

Evelyn Field Visionary Award
Malachi Brockman
Somerset County Vocational and Technical High School

The following middle school students were honored:

Community Service Award
Ashley Dawsey
North Plainfield Middle School

Arianna Cook
Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School

Scholarship Award
Nyla Sapia
J. P. Case Middle School

Aliya Kpamegan
Franklin Middle School

Athletics Award
Tyson Murray
Franklin Middle School

Bethlehem Dooley
J. P. Case Middle School

Arts Award
Brooke Owens
Franklin Middle School

Bryce Gray
Franklin Middle School

Renaissance Award
Gabrielle Davis
Franklin Middle School

Ashley Bangura
Franklin Middle School

Paul Robeson Literary Award
Michael Kessie
J. P. Case Middle School

Evelyn Field Visionary Award
Amya Prescott
Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School

The Paul Robeson Institute for Ethics, Leadership and Social Justice was founded in 1999 to preserve Paul Robeson’s legacy in the area where he came of age as an artist, athlete, orator, and scholar. The Institute envisions a global community of diverse cultures that embodies, through attitudes and behaviors, Paul Robeson’s ideals, beliefs, values, and vision for a world of justice and peace.

The Paul Robeson Resource Room, located in RVCC’s Evelyn S. Field Library, is an information center for Robeson’s national and worldwide activities. Established in 2003, the Resource Room serves as a repository for educational materials, historical records and memorabilia of Robeson’s Somerville years and the worldwide accomplishments of people of African-American descent.

Raritan Valley Community College’s main campus is located at 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg, NJ. Serving Somerset and Hunterdon County residents for close to 50 years, RVCC is an educational and cultural center that is nationally recognized for its innovative programming, service to the community and environmental leadership. The College offers more than 90 associate degrees and certificates, as well as career training, professional development, and adult and youth personal enrichment courses. The College also has a performing arts center and planetarium. RVCC is committed to offering a quality and affordable education through effective teaching, liaisons with the community’s businesses, and state-of-the-art technology. For further information, visit www.raritanval.edu.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 17, 2017

Media contact: Donna Stolzer, 908-526-1200, ext. 8383

PR #159