Women's History Month: Celebrating our Outstanding Scholars
March is Women's History Month: a time to celebrate the triumphs of women over the adversities and sexism that mark the histories of our nation and globe. At the Chicago Scholars Foundation, we ask our Scholars to "Dare to Dream. Dare to Achieve." The following women have taken this dare to heart and have some exceptional results to show for it. We celebrate their achievements.
Takeia Johnson, Class of 2006: A Shining Example
Takeia Johnson is a shining example of an individual dedicated to leaving a positive impact on the world. A scholar from the Class of 2006, Takeia's accomplishments are as numerous as they are exceptional: she received her undergraduate degree from USC where she was recognized with the Extraordinary Community Service Award; graduated from the DePaul University College of Law, where she co-edited the Women's Law Journal and presided over the Black Law Students Association; and she is currently employed in the litigation department at Frost Brown Todd. Oh, we almost forgot, Takeia also helped found the AJANI Higher Education Initiative while at USC, a scholarship program to help make higher education more affordable for minority women. If these accomplishments so far are any indication, Takeia will certainly make her mark. She is an individual we should all strive to emulate.
Nicole Paprocki, Class of 2011: Empowering Women across the Globe
One hardly knows where to begin with Nicole Paprocki's accomplishments, so why not Bangladesh? That's where she traveled in the summer of 2009, as the winner of the Americans for UNFPA Student Award, to learn about acid violence against women and visit United Nations programs for women's empowerment. "I was overcome by the sisterhood I felt among these young women who walked with me through their homes, played with my hair, and let me hold their babies," she wrote in a blog post on Marie Claire's website. "I vowed never to forget these women: their laughter and their warmth." Celebrate Nicole's achievement by visiting her blog with insights and photos, here.
Chanta Williams, '10, & Sally Nuamah, '11: Making Jones Prep Proud
On February 26, 2010 Chanta Williams, Class of 2010 and Sally Nuamah, Class of 2011, were honored as speakers at Jones College Prep High School to celebrate their leadership roles and community activism. The 1st Annual Legends Ball featured Chicago Public Schools' Dr. Barbara Eason-Watkins and fashion designer, Barbara Bates, as keynote speakers.
Sally deserves particular attention, with her recent travels and inspirational work in Ghana. Sally, a student at George Washington University majoring in public policy and English, studied abroad in Ghana to conduct qualitative research about women's educational attainment. Sally interviewed 30 women; her goal, she writes, was to "diversify the image of women in Africa by highlighting the progress of women in...Ghana." It seems that Sally's ultimate goal is a paradigm shift: rooting out stereotypical images of women that are propagated and reified in today's media by showcasing the diversity of roles and professions African women engage in. It is also a tool of empowerment. Sally writes that she hopes to "help educated women take on more influential roles in the workings of their countries." Such noble endeavors deserve our highest accolades.
Mika Harper, Class of 2014, Recognized by the City of Chicago!
Though Mika Harper has not yet begun her college career, she continues to impress us at Chicago Scholars. Mika is kind, intelligent, personable, and focused on extracting the most out of her formative years. And we're not the only ones who are impressed. On February 23, 2010 Chicago's City Treasurer, Stephanie Neely, surprised Mika with a $1000 college scholarship at Percy Julian High School. The scholarship recognized her award-winning essay in the Black History Month Scholarship contest that asked applicants to write about the importance of financial literacy. Let's all revel in Mika's bright future!