Argo Coalition for Education holds awards breakfast

By Carol McGowan

The Argo Coalition for Education held their annual College Education Matters Awards Breakfast at Argo Community High School on May 10.

Winners, with the school they will attend and their field of study are: Caylah Anya Boyd, Elmhurst University, psychology and social work; Asanti Monique Davis, University of Illinois at Chicago, biology, eventually to become a mid-wife; Davonte Martell Evans, University of Wisconsin-Stout, business; Egypt Tanice Nicole Flaming, Western Illinois University, nursing; Ariel Chauntae Marie McMath, Western Illinois University, meteorology; Jonathan Walker, University of Wisconsin-Stout, physical education; Lanlyah Whitehead, University of Illinois Urbana, journalism; Oluwatobiloba Olatunde Ashaolu (not in attendance because of testing), University of Illinois at Chicago, electrical engineering.

The event took place in the TLC (former library) at the school, and the room was filled with student scholarship winners, their parents, ACE members and local dignitaries and members of the Argo community who are big supporters of the program.

Kelli Hinton Moore, Scholarship Chairperson, welcomed everyone to begin the morning and spoke of what the Argo Coalition for Education is about.

The invocation was done by Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Randle, who congratulated everyone, and said often congratulations aren’t done enough. He thanked parents, and all of those who give support to students to help them achieve their goals and move forward. Rev. Randle also gave closing remarks.

ACE Executive Director Bertha Jackson thanked everyone for making the event possible.

She thanked Argo High School, and recognized employees Pam Young, who is secretary to the principal, Anna Willis, who is secretary to the assistant principal, and Brian Schutz, College and Career Counselor, for all of their help and assisting ACE with the program.

Marsha Stokes Alexander, founding member of the Yes I Can After School Program, introduced Jacques Moses, who graduated from Argo in 2009 and is now a teacher at the school.

She applauded him for being an exceptional member of the community, and being active and challenging at times in the program for eight years. She thanked him for now being a member of those who are teaching the next generation.

Past Argo school board member, Helen Mallis, ACE’s Marcia Stokes, Summit Mayor Sergio Rodriguez, and Argo High School Principal Dr. Brandon Cotter all spoke and congratulated the winners.

Cotter said he was proud of Argo’s alumni pride, and invited all of the winners to come back to the school and share their college experiences.

The Argo Coalition for Education consists of Executive Director Bertha Holt Jackson, President Frances Johnson, Treasurer Essie Spriggs Fizer, Secretary Ramona Gaylord Moore, Janice Harvey, Patricia Fizer Manning, Phyllis Mister, Kelli Hinton Moore, Vanessa Davis Morris, Mamie Parker, Elsie Speech, Clemmie Sanders Tolmaire and Joseph B. Williams.

ACE President Francis Johnson (from left), Executive Director Bertha Jackson, Clemmie Tolmaire, Vanessa Morris, Mamie Parker, Scholarship Chairperson Kelly Moore, Treasurer Essie Fizer, and Janice Harvey. (Photo by Carol McGowan)