Dozens of bursaries, scholarships handed out at 2025 John C. Holland Awards celebrating Black youth

A record 38 awards and scholarships were handed out during the 2025 Reverend John C. Holland Awards.

The event, which celebrates Black community achievements and contributions to Hamilton by Black youth, took place on Feb. 21.

Terri Bedminster​​​​​​, chair of the John. C. Holland Awards, said there were 100 shortlisted nominees with wide-ranging talents and accomplishments.

"Kudos to the graduation coaches from a number of schools, and to the teachers, guidance counsellors who did really, really well this year to get the number of applications in," Bedminster said.

"There was a huge community … an increased support for students to apply." 

Maya Ahmed, a 17-year-old student at Westmont Secondary School, was awarded a youth achievement bursary, sponsored by STAC Hamilton. It's awarded to a student or students who have made outstanding academic or other societal achievements.

"They deemed me worthy of that, and I'm very, very grateful for it, and I'm grateful that my work toward helping with social issues was being recognized," Maya told CBC Hamilton.

While she knew she had been nominated for an award, Maya said she wasn't really expecting to actually win anything. 

"When my name got called … I was frozen, like, in shock… It was very shocking and I rushed toward the stage. It felt like I was just transported to a fantasy land for a second there," she said.

"I'm very, very thankful, especially as a first-generation immigrant that wants to pursue studies in law later on and to become a lawyer. This is already such a big milestone for me and the fact that the council deemed me worthy of such an award was so exhilarating."

I'm really proud of her and I know she has a very bright future.- Mona Ali, Maya Ahmed's mother

Maya's mom, Mona Ali, said she has "always, always made me proud since she was like a baby, and when she got that award, I was crying and crying."

"When she's up on the stage, she said, 'I want to thank everyone and thank my mom.' It [was special]. I'm really proud of her and I know she has a very bright future."

Deborah Kenea, 17, was awarded the YWCA Hamilton Young Woman – Trailblazer Scholarship, given to a young woman pursuing studies in a field that closely aligns to advancing women's issues. 

"I honestly did not believe I would win an award. I only went for, like, the Instagram pictures," Deborah told CBC Hamilton. 

"When they called my name, I looked at my mom and I said that's me." 

The Westmont Secondary School student said her plan after high school is to go into studies involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). 

"Obviously there's not a large amount of African women in there."

Deborah has some words of encouragement for other youth: "Always believe in yourself. You always have a chance and always try your best."

Evelyn Myrie, who co-founded John C. Holland Awards with Marlene Thomas-Osbourne in 1996, said it's important to encourage young people to engage in social change with the long-term goal of creating a better society. 

"It's important that we encourage young people to take up the mantle and to really not to be silent in the face of atrocities," said Myrie, president of the Afro Canadian Caribbean Association.

An award in her name — the Evelyn Myrie Political Action Bursary — was presented to David Feboke.

"He's a promising young person who has done work around social justice and I'm encouraged by him," Myrie said. "I'll be having lunch with him soon to talk about how else I could help mentor him in this role." 

Son of man who died after police shooting gets scholarship

Garry Kabera was awarded a scholarship during the ceremony. He's the son of Erixon Kabera, who died after being shot by Hamilton police in November, prompting an SIU investigation into police actions. 

Garry said he's "deeply honoured" to receive the scholarship.

"Your support for students in STEM means so much, and I am truly grateful," he said.

"I also want to thank my mom, my brothers and my guidance counsellor for their unwavering support. Above all, I give glory to God, the foundation of my family's faith and values."

Bedminster said it was heartwarming to see Garry was selected for a scholarship, and pointed to "the need to continue to care for our Black youth and empower them."

"It really drove home the need to be a caring community because many of these youths have their own issues or have their own things that they're dealing with that we don't know about," she said. 

"We judge them by their applications, but there's just so much more that's connected to a kid and the application, and it's really just important that we show up as a community to support the whole person and the whole family."

Here's the full list of winners:

• Crystal Kerr: Community Service Award.
• Monique Smith: Business Achievement Award.
• Dejehan Luckystickz Hamilton: Jackie Washington Arts & Culture Award.
• Ines Rehabe El-Hajjami: Youth Award, General Achievement Bursary.
• Angelique Lewis-Robinson: Youth Award, General Achievement Bursary.
• Jessica Agbolade: Youth Award, General Achievement Bursary.
• Zoe Patterson: Youth Award, General Achievement Bursary.
• Honobienne Bolumbu: Youth Award, General Achievement Bursary.
• Seretta Goulbourne: Youth Award, General Achievement Bursary.
• Oritseweyinmi Okun: Youth Award, General Achievement Bursary.
• Ayotunde Kehinde: Youth Award, General Achievement Bursary.
• Marie Njoroge: Youth Award, General Achievement Bursary.
• Shanya Samuel: Youth Award, General Achievement Bursary.
• KJ Gilling: Youth Award, General Achievement Bursary.
• Daniel Bosede: Youth Award, General Achievement Bursary.
• Chioma Nwosu: Youth Award, General Achievement Bursary.
• Opemipo Oluwasola: Youth Award, General Achievement Bursary.
• Trevor Monroe. Youth Award, General Achievement Bursary.
• Azarielle Tonfack Tankoua: Youth Achievement Bursary.
• Olivia Whitman: Youth Achievement Bursary.
• Isaac Lewis: Youth Achievement Bursary.
• Maya Ahmed: Youth Achievement Bursary.
• Grace Tra-Lou: Youth Achievement Bursary.
• Omolade George: Marlene Thomas Community Advocacy Bursary.
• Michael Marlon Smallwood: Dr. Ethilda 'Tilley' Johnson Business/Entrepreneurship Bursary
• Oluwafikunayomi Alabi: Immigrants Matter Bursary.
• David Feboke: Evelyn Myrie Political Action Bursary.
• Nathan Palmer: Tune-In Foundation Bursary. 
• Garry Kabera: Youth Achievement Scholarship.
• Anisa Marie Roye: Audre Lorde Scholarship.
• Deborah Kenea: YWCA Hamilton Young Woman — Trailblazer Scholarship.
• Oluwatimisola Toyon: Nelson Mandela Social Justice Scholarship.
• Mya Locke: Good Shepherd Health and Social Service Scholarship.
• Eugenie Kaberuka: Reverend George Horton Scholarship.
• Therand Guy: Lincoln Alexander Breaking Down Barriers Scholarship. 
• Isis Seaton: Hamilton Steelworkers Area Council Community Matters Scholarship. 
• Sophia McCulloch: Raymond G. Lewis Sports Leadership Scholarship .
• Christianna Olokesusi: The Damptey Scholarship for Civic Leadership.
• Ayomide Abraham: STEM Scholarship.
• Joshua Persaud: Ainara Alleyne Rising Star Award.  

For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians — from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community — check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of. You can read more stories here.