Kankakee, IL – Mayor Wells-Armstrong will be hosting the African American Leadership Scholarship awards celebration on Thursday, August 6, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. in the fourth-floor auditorium of the Kankakee Public Library. The committee has chosen five graduating students from Kankakee who will be awarded in the amount of $2,000 each.

The recipients are as follows: 

     KeMia Smith who will be attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a major in chemistry. She is seeking to become a chemical engineer.

     De’Asia Love who will be attending Southern University and A&M College with a major in chemistry.  She is seeking to become a pharmacist.

     Janae Fleming who will be attending Kentucky State University with a major in business administration and a specialization in accounting.

     Curtis Smith who will be attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a major in electrical engineering.

     Joe Martin who will be attending Kankakee Community College and transferring to Illinois State University with a major in graphic design.

Mayor Wells-Armstrong awards scholarships based on academics, leadership and community involvement. No taxpayer funds are utilized for the scholarships.  

“It is an honor to award these students with this scholarship and to remove the documented barriers that keep minority students from pursuing higher education. We will continue to support their hard work, determination, and perseverance on their journey. Also, I appreciate the sponsors and community partners who helped me to raise funds for this scholarship,” said Mayor-Wells Armstrong.

This year’s keynote speaker is Kankakee native and former Marine, Nickey Yates, who currently serves on the City of Kankakee’s Police and Fire Commission. Yates taught military history at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University after retiring from the Marines. He then returned to Kankakee where he remains actively involved throughout the community.

The event will be broadcasted live on Comcast local channel four, the City of Kankakee’s YouTube channel, Facebook page and website.

 

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The City of Kankakee is dedicated to protecting, building and nurturing the community while enhancing lives. We are a historic, vibrant, and active riverfront community. We continue to transform into an extraordinary place to dream, grow, and thrive. Embracing our diversity, we strive to be progressive, inclusive, and innovative. For more information on the City of Kankakee, please visit the website at www.citykankakee-il.gov.

 

Download the Press Release - Mayor Wells-Armstrong to Host Third Annual African American Leadership Scholarship Awards Celebration