Award Recipients

View the 2023 Reverend John C Holland Awards Thank You package here.

General Achievement Bursary – Suzanne Abdullah

General Achievement Bursary – Cynthia Oyogo

General Achievement Bursary – Devlyn Tagoe

General Achievement Bursary  – Cyrena Hamilton

General Achievement Bursary – Khairiya Haji

General Achievement Bursary  – Joshua Cote

General Achievement Bursary – Keionna Cousins

General Achievement Bursary  – Josiah Bowen

General Achievement Bursary – Derron Alleyne

General Achievement Bursary  – Shante Paddy

Inaugural Ainara Alleyne Rising Star Award – Ainara Alleyne

Nelson Mandela Social Justice Scholarship – Chanice Olokesusi

Audre Lorde LGBTQ+ Scholarship​ – Omowonuola Adelusi

Tune In Foundation Bursary – Olivia Purnell

Dr. Ethilda “Tilly” Johnson Business/Entrepreneurship Bursary – Yasmeen Elkheir

Evelyn Myrie Political Action Bursary – Alice Okpere

YWCA – Girls Rock Scholarship – Kiyara Millwood

Lincoln M. Alexander Breaking Down Barriers Scholarship – Esther Goombs

Marlene A.S. Thomas Community Advocacy Scholarship – Mofiyinfoluwa Saka

Raymond G. Lewis Sports Leadership Scholarship – Laila Hampson

Reverend George Horton Law Enforcement Scholarship – Serenity Thompson

Immigrants Matter Bursary – Abraham Oroma

Hamilton Steelworkers Area Council Immigrants Matter Scholarship – Ademide Abogunrin

Jackie Washington Arts Award – Esie Mensah

Community Service Award – BLK Owned Ham Ont

Business & Professional Award – Vivian Kaye

HBHC Award of Merit – Robert Small

Vince Morgan Ally Award – Denise Christopherson

Unify Awards

Quintin Greenidge
Mercy Nyakundi
Ehis Oziegbe
Uaetohange Katjiuongua
Rheanne Browne
Luca Di Gregorio Zotti
Tiany Williams
Suad Adan
Esther Bothon
Deaundra Simms
Michelle Ogunyemi
Nyal Lewis
Ireal Daly
Esther Goombs
Serenity Thompson
Omowonuola Adelusi
Cynthia Oyogo
Olivia Purnell
Joshua Cote
Shante Paddy

View the 2022 Reverend John C Holland Awards Thank You package here.

General Achievement Award – David Akintola
(sponsored by Ross McBride LLP)

General Achievement Award – Christina Benson
(sponsored by McMaster Political Science)

General Achievement Award – Eliza Ritchie
(sponsored by McMaster Political Science)

General Achievement Award – Noah Faulknor
(Sponsored by Hamilton Chamber of Commerce)

Nelson Mandela Social Justice Scholarship – Adeola Egbeyemi
(Sponsored by Gowling WLG)

Audre Lorde Scholarship​ – Lerissa-Lynaé Mowatt
(Sponsored by Ruth Cameron)

Tune In Foundation Bursary – Ruth Masuka
(Sponsored by Tune-In Foundation)

Dr. Ethilda “Tilly” Johnson Business/Entrepreneurship Bursary – Jalen Collins-Reid
(sponsored by May-Marie Duwai Sowa)

Evelyn Myrie Political Action Bursary – Esther Sowunmi
(sponsored by MP Matthew Green)

Girls Rock Scholarship – Malikca Lawrence
(sponsored by YWCA)

Community Matters Scholarship – Judeny Belizaire
(sponsored by United Steelworkers Hamilton and Area Council)

Lincoln M. Alexander Breaking Down Barriers Scholarship- Anuoluwa (Anu) Popoola
(sponsored by Beeksma Law)

Marlene A.S. Thomas Community Advocacy Scholarship – Thélia Badoana
(sponsored by Hamilton Black History Council)

Raymond G. Lewis Sports Leadership Scholarship – Martin Ndebay
(sponsored by Mount Olive Lodge #1)

Reverend George Horton Law Enforcement Scholarship – Kaileez Joseph
(sponsored by Hamilton Community News)

Immigrants Matter Scholarship – Omolade George
(sponsored by Olukunle Adetunji)

Jackie Washington Arts and Culture Award – stylo starr

Vince Morgan Ally Award – Nrinder Nann

HBHC’s Award of Merit – Judge Rochelle Ivri

Unify Awards

David Akintola
Tianne Lewis
Ranya Oumar Issa
Abdirahman (Abdi) Aden
Olivia Ahing
Ariyanna Lee
Salsabil Sarhan
Salaamat Toure
Imani Washington
Samrawit Mulugeta
Jenna Harris
Craig Mwangi
Zinachika Agbassi
Martin Ndebay
Esther Sowunmi

View the 2021 Reverend John C Holland Awards Thank You package here.

Calin Gibson
Aisha Ahmad
Abygail Montague
Benjamin Faulknore
Leah Daniel
Shayla Rodney
Oyin Aderibigbe
Happy Habte
Cheikh Youmbi
Alyssa Vernon
Alyssa Vernon
Teniola Odunfa
Aaron Parry
Darasami Jakande
Noah Matsakawo
Angelique Desouza
Shayla Bramer
Temitayo Babalola
Fechukwu Agbassi
Grace Abai
Dannick Butera
Seretta Goulbourne
Naomi Ngobila
Payton Shank
Malachi Ahmad
Bailey Bovell
Tas-Jay Smith
Joëlle Kabisoso Kapinga
Kojo Damptey
Dr. Ameil Joseph
Max Francis of True Hamiltonian
Trad Magazine

Sterling Seunarine
Nifemi Adeoye
Gabriela Roberts
Kirah-Symone Francis
Sydney Hussett
Evan Thomas Morgan
Nadiya Nuru-Deen
Ahmed Sarhan
Amber Carroll
Daniella Chukwu
Danait Mulugeta
Chanelle Hutchinson
Rachiel Chirara
Chelsea Okyere
Abdullah Dwyer
Sojourn Mark
Monique Kepple
Shukri Abdulwahed
Vincent Cain

Nickolos Farrell
Tina Garnett
Paize Usiosefe
Yasin Dwyer
Darren Green

Rebecca Matsakawo
Sonia Igboanugo Tatyanna Burke
Aba Ansa-Sam
Faisal Mohamed
Salsabil Sarhan
Tyler Williams
Gabriela Roberts
Cree Bell
Cordell James
Albert Graham
Israel Crooks
Mark John Stewart
Ken Stone
Sandy Bell

Gachi Issa
David Parkes
Sheilah Mwuaura
Michael Ssemanda
Hailey Summers
Natasha Martin
Isaiah Williams
Maurice Brown Jr.
Sarah Jama
Michael St. George
Robert Morrow
Jovaun Rhodes

Norma Rookwood
Dr. Sybil Wilson
Tanya Charles
Jeremy Shand
Stewart Memorial Church

Doreen Johnson
Dr. Gary Warner
Harrison Kennedy
Titus Channer
Rose Drake
Patricia Apangu
Hon. Lincoln Alexander *

The Hamilton Black History Council is a not-for-profit community organization whose mission is to promote, celebrate, and honor the history of people of African descent. We do this through engaging events, programs, and initiatives such as the Reverend John C Holland Awards and Hamilton’s Black History Month Launch.

The Council’s work is guided by four pillars of our community: celebration, connection, education, and empowerment. These pillars are reflected in the accomplishments and efforts of Black leaders and residents of Hamilton over many years and serve as the base upon which we continue to build our collective impact.

Since 1996, HBHC has provided over 200 scholarships and awards to Black youth through the Reverend John C Holland Awards and other platforms. In addition to elevating our community through awards and showcasing our past and living Black history, the Council is responsive to the needs of the youth and families of our community. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, HBHC launched the Education Assistance Program, which has supported 45 youth through difficulties that they have faced in pursuing post-secondary education.