Editor’s Note: Celebrating a year of collective greatness! Read on to see how this story—and many others—captures the best of our community.
The awarding of seven Anna B. Lewis Anniversary Memorial Scholarships at the awards presentation on Saturday, August 29th, was a very uplifting event. The recipients distinguished themselves in a wide range of areas, including academics, athletics, community work and skilled trades.
These students demonstrated academic success and distinguished themselves through their scholastic achievements and accomplishments. Many of the recipients came from Brampton, Toronto and Mississauga, showcasing the achievements of Black students in the community.
The scholarships are made possible largely through the efforts of Founder and Coordinator Greta Archer, Pastor Rev. Dr. Gene Archer, Senior Pastor of Pilgrim Church of the First Born (PCFB), and members of the scholarship committee.
In attendance were family members, friends, members of Pilgrim Church of the First Born and New Life Christian Fellowship Church, as well as community supporters who came out in force to celebrate the scholarship winners.
The Memorial Scholarships honour the ongoing legacy of Anna B. Lewis, who passed away in 2006. Her memory and influence, however, continue to live on through the students whose educational journeys are supported by the scholarships.
The jam-packed program included a full itinerary outlined in the program booklet. Rev. Dr. Gene Archer welcomed the recipients with words of appreciation and gratitude.
“It is with a heart of thanksgiving and gratitude that we celebrate this, the 20th year of the Anna B. Lewis committee, awarding post-secondary scholarships to worthy/qualified students,” he said. “We have to date awarded over 50 scholarships, plus this year’s seven recipients will proudly be added to that number. Sister Anna would be pleased indeed. So, we carry her legacy forward. Fixed in our determination to help students succeed!”
Greta Archer reaffirmed the message with words of positivity, celebrating the accomplishments of this year’s recipients and the challenges they have overcome. “This year, we are Happy to Celebrate 7 Amazingly, Academically Accomplished, Multi-talented! young people who have overcome many challenges thus far in their educational, and life’s journey,” she said.
The seven scholarship recipients are Mykayla Scarlett, who is pursuing studies at a university in Florida and excels in throwing events; Makayla McIntosh, who will major in communications at Saginaw State University with aspirations of becoming a television personality; and Jude Miller, who will begin the Truck and Coach Technician program at Centennial College.
Christian Noel plans to become a structural engineer after completing Civil Engineering studies at York University. Joshua Clarke will begin the Carpentry and Renovations program at Humber Polytechnic. Taraja Smith will study Pharmacy Technician at Humber College, while Tayari Smith is registered in undergraduate Life Sciences at the University of Toronto Scarborough, where he achieved a 95 per cent average in his first year.
The scholarship committee expressed its appreciation to: Blanch McIntosh, Claudette Powell, Ministers Colette Daley and Denley McIntosh, Janet Stewart, Elder Amolyn Peart, Janel Archer, Minister Clairmont Humphrey and Elder June Stoute for their contributions.
Appreciation was also expressed for Journey’s International Cuisine, led by award-winning chef Courtney Guy, which catered the dinner.
For two decades, the Anna B. Lewis Memorial Scholarships have done more than recognize achievement. They have helped turn one woman’s legacy into an opportunity for another generation to build its own.
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