The Education Committee of the NAACP established the Ethel K. Mills Achievement Awards Night to honor the accomplishments of students of color in our community.
Named for the beloved and respected principal at the Rosenwald School, the awards recognize: Principal’s awards; perfect attendance; A/B honor roll listings; level 4 and 5 proficiency on state exams; college readiness on the PreACT; success in honors- or AP-level high school courses and dual-enrollment college courses; attainment of national or industry credentials in Career/Technical Education courses; specialized diploma endorsements; and scholarship awards.
Planned as an annual community event, the formal Awards Night was cancelled in August due to Covid restrictions. Awards were given to students at Brevard High School this month; elementary and middle school students will receive their awards at their schools next month.
Elementary award recipients are: Jeremiah Avery, Dreamer Hope-Owenby, Keiron Obson, and DeaJai Robinson.
High school award recipients are: Alaana Bennett, Kaya Brown, Keeley Brown, Jordyn Brown, Pheonix Chastine, Constance Chatman, Shaniya Cook, Anthony Daugherty, Aysia Daugherty, Kiana Foster, Sneha Foster, Sionna Griffin, Ciana Hall, Amaya Harris, Avan Hinkle, Amya Humphries-White, Ashayla Landreth, Corey Matthews, Bailey Musser, Aaliya Peak, Kaiden Ramirez, Senait Richmond, Amyiah Robinson-Simpson, Cavan Walker, and Taylen Wynn.
Dreamer Marie Hope-Owenby receives her award for “Dedication to Learning”
Brevard Middle School teacher Lewis Whiteside (left) received the Cornelius Hunt award honoring his dedication to Transylvania County Students. Students received the Ethel K Mills recognitions award for: Level IV/V on state exams, all A’s or A/B honor roll, perfect attendance, and principal’s awards for leadership and meeting the challenge. Students, front row, left to right: Devin Chatman, Cynia Wilkes, Alexa Radford, Kia Emaus, Gavin McMinn, Tristan Wynn, Dillon Hunter. Back row: Nyla Harris, Jahazel Lucas, Kyra Polk, Patience Boyd, Zymaria Griffin, Ju’Coreyn Bristol, Brayden Crain, Camden Long-White, and presenter Sheila Mooney.Brevard High art teacher Sean Parrish (right) receives the Cornelius Hunt award for his dedication to Transylvania County Students on Dec. 13, 2021, from Sheila Mooney. Founded in 1992, the Cornelius Hunt Memorial Endowment honors Hunt’s civic service to Transylvania and our state. Hunt (1919-1990) founded the Transylvania Citizens Improvement Organization and helped integrate Transylvania County high schools and equalize local hospital services. Later, he served as Mayor Pro Tem of Brevard and worked with Habitat for Humanity, the American Cancer Society, the Red Cross, and the Mary C. Jenkins Center.Junior and seniors, left to right: Amaya Harris, Sneha Foster, Bailey Musser, Senait Richmond, Sionna Griffin, Shaniya Cook, Amaya Humphries-White.Freshmen and sophomores, left to right: Keeley Brown, Phoenix Chastain, Ciana Hall, Kaya Brown, Alaana Bennett, Avan Hinkle, Cavan Walker, Corey Matthews, Taylen Wynn, and Jordyn Brown.Senior Amaya Harris receives a kente honors cord to wear at graduation.Senior Sneha Foster receives a kente honors cord to wear at graduation.When they wear their graduation regalia in the spring, seniors Amaya Harris (left) and Sneha Foster will also wear an honors cord made with traditional kente cloth colors red, gold, green, and black. The kente cord represents the highest honors among the Ethel K Mills achievement awards.
