Winners of the 30th Reverend John C. Holland Awards

The Reverend John C Holland Awards have always celebrated excellence in Hamilton’s Black community. This year was no different at the ceremony on February 15, 2026 at LiUNA Station.

Below is the complete list of winners:

• Jackie Washington Arts and Culture Award: Colina Phillips
  
  
  
  Links: More Colina Phillips Stories, Video above courtesy of McMasterMuseum
  
  
• Ainara Alleyne ‘Rising Star’ Award for elementary school students ($500): Nasteho Mohammed -Finalists: Antonio Damptey Bonilla and Rachard Anthony Fenelon
• Award of Merit: Marlene Dei-Amoah
• Community Service Award: STAC Hamilton
• Emerging Young Leader Award: Chengetai Nyamnde
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Gary Warner
• Vince Morgan Ally Award: Terry Cooke

Sankofa Pearl Bursary ($500)

• Secondary student recipients: Alyvea Riley, Aya Adam, Barakat Adedeji, Chizaram Emekalam, Dante James Hillen, D’Avonté Ralph, Elijah Sterling King, Ella Poku, Georgia Walker, Grace Mumo Mwalyo, Ibiye Naomi Davids, Ife Alake, Israela Ngatched Ngania, Jayden Millar Edwards, Lennex Maley, Naiyah Reece, Najma Hassan, Nasra Bain, Nina Borcea-Richardson, Oluwalani Adedeji, Omonigho Okpere, Sydney Oyewumi, Tinuade Omoregie and Zachariah Adjodia Persaud
• Post-secondary student recipients: David Feboke, Emnet Goitom, Isis Seaton, Jonathan Roswell, Kaylinda Mupesse, KJ Gilling, Monae McKenzie and Oluwanifemi Ogundare
• Mature student recipients: Idongesit Ita Ekanem

Sankofa Pearl Scholarship ($3,000)

• Secondary student recipients: Aya Adam, Barakat Adedeji, Dante James Hillen and Israela Ngatched Ngania
• Post-secondary student recipient: Emnet Goitom

Below is the Hamilton Spectator article about the event. Click the picture to increase the size.

Video above courtesy of CHCH News

Links: Reverend John C Holland Awards, More John C Holland Award Stories

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2025 Reverend John C Holland Award Winners

Photo courtesy of CBC Hamilton

 From the website:

Since 1996, the Reverend John C Holland Awards have celebrated excellence in Hamilton’s Black community. The Awards celebrate and recognize the academic achievements and aspirations of Black youth by offering scholarships and support to assist them in accessing post-secondary education. The Awards also celebrate the rich cultural heritage of our community and recognize the contributions of local Black leaders to the social, economic, and cultural life of our city. 

Winners were announced at a ceremony on Saturday February 22, 2025

Click here for the CBC Hamilton story.

Below is a complete list of winners:

• Dejehan "Luckystickz" Hamilton: Jackie Washington Arts & Culture Award.
  
  
  
  Links: Luckystickz, More Luckystickz Stories, Video above courtesy of Lucky Stickz
  
  
• Crystal Kerr: Community Service Award: 
• Monique Smith: Business Achievement Award.
• 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.

Youth Award, General Achievement Bursaries

• Ines Rehabe El-Hajjami
• Angelique Lewis-Robinson
• Jessica Agbolade
• Zoe Patterson
• Honobienne Bolumbu
• Seretta Goulbourne
• Oritseweyinmi Okun
• Ayotunde Kehinde
• Marie Njoroge
• Shanya Samuel
• KJ Gilling
• Daniel Bosede
• Chioma Nwosu
• Opemipo Oluwasola
• Trevor Monroe

Youth Achievement Bursaries

• Azarielle Tonfack Tankoua
• Olivia Whitman
• Isaac Lewis
• Maya Ahmed
• Grace Tra-Lou

Links: Reverend John C Holland Awards, More John Holland Award Stories

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2024 Reverend John C Holland Award Winners

 From the website:

Since 1996, the Reverend John C Holland Awards have celebrated excellence in Hamilton’s Black community. The Awards celebrate and recognize the academic achievements and aspirations of Black youth by offering scholarships and support to assist them in accessing post-secondary education. The Awards also celebrate the rich cultural heritage of our community and recognize the contributions of local Black leaders to the social, economic, and cultural life of our city. 

Winners were announced at a ceremony on Saturday February 24, 2023.

Below is a complete list of winners.This year’s honourees are:

• Audre Lorde LGBTQ2S+ Scholarship — Owen Martin
• Damptey Scholarship for Civic Leadership — Naomi Ogunjobi
• Dr. Ethilda “Tilly” Johnson “Business/Entrepreneurship” Bursary — Camila Rabia
• Good Shepherd Health and Social Services Scholarship — Chloe Oyebola
• Hamilton Steelworkers Area Council “Community Matters” Scholarship — Emilia Diaz-Ruiz
• Immigrants Matter Bursary — Aisha Suliman
• Lincoln Alexander “Breaking down Barriers” Scholarship — Asha Abdi
• Raymond G. Lewis “Sports Leadership” Scholarship — Justice Umelo
• Reverend George Horton Scholarship — Muna Essa
• STEM Scholarship — Ahmed Aboleila
• Tune-In Foundation Bursary — Rachael Goombs
• YWCA Hamilton Young Woman — Trailblazer Scholarship — Stephanie Jean Pierre
• Evelyn Myrie “Political Action” Bursary — Ariana Petrazzini
• Marlene Thomas “Community Advocacy” Bursary — Ezinne Ifeanacho
• Nelson Mandela “Social Justice” Scholarship — Koubra Haggar
• Mature Student Scholarship — Michael Okoro
• Youth Achievement Bursaries — Zephi Brooks, Shoroug Adam, Nana Poku and Charly Mutamba
• General Achievement Bursaries — Seretta Goulbourne, Daniella Chukwu, Ines El Aker, Seanna Garcia, Benita Nkansah, James Esemu-Ezewu, Sara Teklemichael, Emily Williams, Lexy Sevor and Stephanie Henry
• Ainara Alleyne “Rising Star” Award — Joel Simon
• Business & Professional Achievement — Sharon Gordon
• Jackie Washington Arts & Culture Award — Kareem Ferreira
  
  
  
  Video above courtesy of Dundas Valley School of Art
  
  
• Community Service Award — Omar Mahamed
• Vince Morgan Ally Award — Dr. Madeleine Verhovsek

More John Holland Award Stories

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2023 Reverend John C Holland Award Winners

From the website:

Since 1996, the Reverend John C Holland Awards have celebrated excellence in Hamilton’s Black community. The Awards celebrate and recognize the academic achievements and aspirations of Black youth by offering scholarships and support to assist them in accessing post-secondary education. The Awards also celebrate the rich cultural heritage of our community and recognize the contributions of local Black leaders to the social, economic, and cultural life of our city. 

Winners were announced at a ceremony on Saturday February  18, 2023.

Media Links

• Hamilton Spectator
• CBC

Below is a complete list of winners.

• Tune-In Foundation Bursary: Olivia Purnell (musician)
  
  
  
  Video above courtesy Olivia Purnell
  
  
• Jackie Washington Arts and Culture Award: Esie Mensah
  
  
  
  Video above courtesy of Toronto History Museums

• Youth Achievement Bursary Winners: Suzanne Abdullah, Cynthia Oyogo, Devlyn Tagoe, Cyrena Hamilton, Khairiya Haji, Joshua Cote, Keionna Cousins, Derron Alleyne (instructor, Hamilton Youth Steel Orchestra), Shante Paddy (tenor sax player), Josiah Bowen
  
  
  
  Video above courtesy of The Gasworks Hamilton
  
  
• Lincoln Alexander Breaking Down Barriers Scholarship: Esther Goombs (community outreach assistant  - ACORN Canada)
• Evelyn Myrie Political Action Bursary: Alice Okpere (student, volunteer)
• Nelson Mandela Social Justice Scholarship: Chanice Olokesusi (student)
• Rev. George Horton Scholarship - Serenity Thompson (student, poet)
• Audre Lorde LBTQ2S+ Scholarship: Omowonuola Adelusi (student, co-founder - DeGroote B (L) ack in Business)
• Marlene Thomas Community Advocacy Bursary - Mofiyinfoluwa Saka (Black Futures Lab)
• Immigrants Matter Scholarship: Abraham Oroma (student)
• Dr. Ethilda “Tilly” Johnson — Business/Entrepreneurship Bursary: Yasmeen Elkheir (student)
• Raymond G. Lewis Sports Leadership - Laila Hampson (student, athlete)
• YWCA Girls Rock Scholarship - Kiyara Millwood (student, athlete)
• Hamilton Steelworkers Area Council Community Matters Scholarship: Ademide Abogunrin (student, member of the Celtic Calibrate)
• Connection Awards: Brandon Bernard, Chealsey Kamara, Nokutenda Nyamande, Coralie Muco, Crisanne Braham, Fiona Jumu, Isra Bashir, Angela Adeyinka, Alexandra Brown. Delina Woldeyesus, Ivana Ndangam, Ndama Simon, Atteyla Barichello-Herrera
• Empowerment Awards: Shaleesa Clarke, Khadidja Taguina, Opemipo Oluwasola, Laila Baker, Tinotenda mariga, Agapa Goombs, Halle Williams, Maryan Jama, Abigail Smith Bennett, Rugeyata Bah, Rami Naamna, Chloe Naylor-Malcolm, Caitlyn Mwangi, Maleek Pryce, Kyla Momanyi
• Unity Awards: Obed Matumona, Marie-Paul Duwai-Sowa, Quintin Greenidge, Mercy Nyakundi, Ehis Oziegbe, Uaetohange Katjiuongua, Rheanne Browne, Luca Di Gregorio Zotti, Tiffany Williams, Suad Adan, Esther Bothon, Deaundra Simms, Michelle Ogunyemi, Nyal Lewis, Ireal Daly
• HBHC Award of Merit: Robert Small
• Community Service Award: BLK Owned HamOnt
• Business/Professional Achievement: Vivian Kaye
• Vince Morgan Ally Award: Denise Christopherson

More John Holland Award Stories

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CONGRATS! Jovaune "Big Joe" Rhodes and Michael St. George Earn Rev. John C. Holland Awards

This year's Rev. John C Holland Awards Ceremony included wins by two Hamilton musicians.  Blues singer Jovaune "Big Joe" Rhodes received an Award of Merit for his advocacy work in the community. Multi-genre performer, Michael St. George earned the Jackie Washington Award for Arts.



Links: Big Joe Rhodes, More Big Joe Rhodes Stories, More Muddy Waters Covers/Stories, Video above courtesy of BOYDWILSONFILMS





Links: Michael St. George, Videos above courtesy of Michael St. George Dub Artist

The event was held on Saturday, February 25, 2017 at Liuna Station and is a wonderful part of the city's Black History Month celebrations.

CONGRATS GUYS!

Here's a full list of winners:

• Jackie Washington Award for Arts – Michael St. George (Musician)
• Award of Merit – Jovaune "Big Joe" Rhodes (Musician, Advocate)
• Nelson Mandela Award – Gachi Issa (McMaster Womanists)
• Community Service Award – Maurice Brown Jr. (Les Chater Family YMCA)
• Lincoln Alexander Award – Sheilah Mwaura (Volunteer)
• Raymond G. Lewis Award – Michael Ssemanda (Volunteer)
• Ally Award – Bob Morrow (former Mayor of Hamilton)
• Youth Award – Hailey Summers (Athlete)
• Audre Lorde Scholarship Award – Natasha Martin (Social Service Worker student)
• Youth Achievement Award – Isaiah Williams (Student, Volunteer)
• Inspiration Award – David Parkes (Student, Volunteer)
• Evelyn Myrie Political Action Award – Sarah Jama (National Educational Association of Disabled Students, Advocate)

Click here for the Hamilton Spectator story

Click here for the CBC story

Blast from the Past: John Ellison Wins 2012 Rev. John C Holland Award

Links: John C Holland Awards, More John C Holland Award Stories

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John Ellison Receives Rev. John C Holland Award

Congratulations to local soul legend John Ellison for receiving a Rev. John C Holland Award.  Every year, the honor is bestowed upon significant contributors to the community to celebrate Black History Month.  It was the 16th anniversary of the gala.

Ellison is best known as the writer of the 1967 international hit Some Kind of Wonderful.

Click here for the Spectator story

NEW FEATURE! Blasts from the Past: John Ellison and others performing at Stewart Memorial Church, When Ellison was our Performer of the Week

Links: John Ellison, More John Ellison Stories

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