Top Black High School Seniors

Ebony, July, 2002

IN a word, they're awesome. With acceptances to prestigious historically Black colleges and universities and Ivy League institutions alike, hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships and hundreds of hours of volunteer work under their belts, this year's Top Black High School Seniors are living examples of the good that Black teenagers can do and the greatness that they can achieve.

Jonathan Richard Harris of Chicago's Whitney Young High School has a 4.7 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) and is a National Achievement Scholar, Advanced Placement Scholar, a Principal's Scholar. Harris, who is in Who's Who in American High Schools, plans to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to pursue a degree in telecommunications.

Victoria O. Njoku, valedictorian of Los Angeles' Crenshaw Learn Charter High School, has been recognized by Who's Who in American High Schools, the Academic Decathlon and the Governor Scholars program. Njoku is a member of the math team, the cross-country track team and Volunteers of America. She will attend Stanford University and major in chemical engineering.

Janelle Beverly is valedictorian of Cass Technical High School in Dertroit. She plans to attend the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, where she will major in finance. She has been recognized by Who's Who Among American High School Students, has served as vice president for the National Honor Society. Beverly, who did volunteer work with the March of Dimes, hopes to become a national sales director.

Alvin Ellsworth Hough Jr. is valedictorian and class president of Washington, D.C.'s Benjamin Banneker Academic Senior High School. The Ron Brown Scholar is the recipient of the Yale Book Award, and has won over $8,000 in academic competitions. Hough, who has amassed over 270 hours of community service, will study biochemistry at Harvard University. He plans to become a neurosurgeon.

Monique Kingcade, who ranks in the top 5 percent of her class at Edward H. White High School in Jacksonville, Fla., has received numerous awards, including the National Academic Achiever Award and the National Mathematics Achiever Award. Kingcade is a member of the National Honor Society, the National Beta Club and the Martin Luther King Jr. Multicultural Club. The future pharmacist will attend Florida State University.

Leah Cullum is valedictorian of the Choir Academy of Harlem. She has been offered full scholarships to Baruch College and Queens College. Cullum is a member of the Girls Choir of Harlem, serves as class president and is a past recipient of the United States Achievement Academy honor. She plans to pursue a career in economics.

Cedric R. Suttle, a student at Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta, has been offered over $200,000 in scholarships from prestigious organizations and schools such as Morehouse College, Clark Atlanta University and the 100 Black Men of Atlanta. The football team captain is a Naval Academy Scholar, and a member of the National Honor Society. He will attend South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, S.C.

Paris Woods of the Metro Academic and Classical Magnet High School in St. Louis has completed over 270 hours of community service at the St. Louis Children's Hospital. The varsity volleyball player placed in the all-district competition, won first place in the Academic Olympics, and is a member of the All-District Honors Choir. She plans to attend Harvard University to pursue a dual degree in psychology and African-American studies.

Sylvesta T. Gillard ranks second in her class at South High School in Cleveland. She is listed on the National Honor Roll and is president of the National Honor Society. Gillard, a member of the Youth Congress and the Student Leadership Group, was offered two scholarships totaling $11,000 per year from Wilmington College. She plans to study sports medicine.

Valencia M. Smith is class salutatorian of Memphis' Hillcrest High School, a member of the National Honor Society and a recipient of the prestigious Presidential Award. Smith was a leading performer in the school's Majorettes and Drummers Corps and volunteered with the Big Brothers/Big Sisters club. She will attend the University of Memphis and major in premed.

Joy Alison Cooper, student representative for the city of Philadelphia, is an Advanced Placement Scholar (with honors) and president of the National Honor Society. Cooper ranks in the top 10 percent of her class at the Philadelphia High School for Girls and is a member of the school choir and the Girl Scouts. Cooper will attend Harvard University to major in African-American studies and premed.

Joshua W. Allen has earned a cumulative GPA of 4.8 (on a 4.0 scale) and is the valedictorian of Chicago's Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy. The National Merit Scholar has successfully completed college-level courses offered through a dual-credit College Bridge Program and has received $112,000 in scholarships. Allen will attend the University of Southern California, where he will major in broadcast journalism.