Since 1979, Kappa Omega Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., (AKA) has sponsored an Annual African American Graduation Awards Program. This program is a celebration of outstanding African American High School and honor roll Eighth Grade students in Kern County. High School graduates receive scholarships and Eighth Grade graduates are presented with Certificates of Recognition.
AKA awards scholarships to High School graduates based on the following criteria.
Submission of a complete scholarship application packet. The packet must include completed application, personal essay, two sealed letters of recommendation and an official transcript. Successful review of the application packet for significant achievement in one or more areas including: grade point average, school leadership activities, community service participation or athletic competition. There is also consideration of financial need.
Submission of proof of registration in 12 or more college units. Registration must be completed within the first grading period after high school graduation. High School students nominated for a scholarship must meet all of the above criteria. In the event a student fails to meet any of the criteria for the award (e.g. failure to submit proof of registration in college), the award will be returned to the scholarship fund to be awarded in a subsequent year.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority partners with Community Donors who wish to give scholarships to deserving High School students. Some Community Donors give funds to the Bakersfield Ivy Legacy Foundation, Inc. for scholarship distribution while others give directly to the students. AKA also invites churches and other organizations to recognize their scholarship recipients during the African American Graduation Awards Program.
Eighth grade students are presented with Certificates of Recognition based upon the recommendation of the principal or counselor of their schools.
NOTICE OF POSSIBLE USE OF YOUR NAME, IMAGE OR LIKENESS
Please be advised that attending and participating in this event may result in the use of your name, image and/or likeness in printed and electronic material; including but not limited to publication on the World Wide Web, social network sites, press materials, advertising and marketing materials. You hereby specifically release Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® and Bakersfield Ivy Legacy Foundation, Inc. from any and all claims arising from the use of your name, image and/or likeness based on any of the uses stated above.
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2025 DISTINGUISHED SCHOLARS
NORMA BOYD MEMORIAL AWARD
Jordyn West Martin, Liberty
SCHOLASTIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Isaiah Ray, Frontier
SUSIANNA ANDERSON BOOK AWARD
Kayla Vaughn, Del Oro
DR. CAREN FLOYD MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Kelli McKenzie, Ridgeview
ROCHELLE BUTLER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Quianna Williams, East Bakersfield
VELASKA CARTER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Jayden Bailey, West
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Xavier Buffington, Mira Monte
Precious Karuga, Frontier
Erykah Johnson, Ridgeview
Jade Martinez, Liberty
EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Jayden Oliver, Del Oro
Yoanna Barcenas, Bakersfield
Zariah Alexander, Golden Valley
Moriah Riggins, Independence
Neveah West, Bakersfield
Alexis Tinnin, Frontier
Kayley Peterson, Stockdale
Zuryah Alexander, Independence
Amya Amey, Independence
Jessie Marie Brown, West
Xena Buffington, Mira Monte
LEGACY AWARDS
Don W. Hicks Legacy Award
Kelsey Sebbern, Independence
Kamilah Okafor Legacy Award
Vanessa Fakrosha, Liberty
Jayla Ward, Garces Memorial
Keith Vernard McKnight Legacy Award
Tremelle Spain, Shafter
Jayda Green, Foothill
Susianna Anderson Diamond Legacy Award
Amaya Stowe, South
Jada White, East Bakersfield
SOROR’S CHILD AWARD
Emily Cramer, Centennial
Anthony Graim, West
MISS FASHIONETTA® SCHOLARSHIP COMMUNITY AWARDS - OPTION A
Miss Fashionetta® 2022 Program
Jessie Marie Brown, West
Miss Fashionetta® 2024 Program
Precious Karuga, Frontier
Miss Fashionetta® 2024 Program
Moriah Riggins, Independence
Miss Fashionetta® 2022 Participant
Jessie Marie Brown, West
Precious Karuga, Frontier
Miss Fashionetta® 2024 Participant
Moriah Riggins, Independence
Remember Your Teacher Award
Jannell Sherrell, Bakersfield Adventist Academy
Carlos E. Smith Memorial Alayah Brown, Independence
Arthur Ward Memorial Aamir Smith, Independence
Lueether Ward Memorial
Dilyn Stewart, Bakersfield
COMMUNITY AWARDS - Option B
Charles Benjamin Hodge Education
Emily Cramer, Centennial
Lt. Paul Bradford Memorial Scholarship
Rhiyan Patterson, Ridgeview
Robert & Ruscel Reader Scholarship
Emily Cramer, Centennial
Harlem and Beyond
Devin Adkins, Stockdale
Brent and Diane McClanahan
Scholarship
Amaya Stowe, South
Ruben and Vera Ford Memorial Scholarship
Jordan Summers, Highland
Irma Carson Scholarship
Jordan Summers, Highland
Men With A Purpose
Isaih Jefferson, Independence
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
Maise Marie Baker Memorial
Dilyn Stewart, Bakersfield
Upside Academy, Inc.
Dilyn Stewart, Bakersfield
Zuryah Alexander, Golden Valley
Jada White, East Bakersfield
Ronnie & Holly Mitchell Family Scholarship
Deashanna Hampton, South
Aubrey Ann Strong, Golden Valley
Alayah Brown, Independence
Aamir Smith, Independence
Eternity Proctor, Highland
Gwendolyn Johnson Award
Jordan Summers, Highland
Alexis Sheppard, Ridgeview
Dr. Edward Charles and Karen Allen Award
Moriah Riggins, Independence
Revius Green, Frontier
Vincent Carnegie, Stockdale
Alayah Brown, Independence
Raymond Davis Memorial
Jesse Marie Brown,West
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Dennis Biakuse, Golden Valley
Alayah Brown, Independence
Vincent Carnegie, Stockdale
Emily Cramer, Centennial
Anthwone Jones, South
Moriah Riggins, Independence
Amarius Rowel, Independence
Kelsey Sebbern, Independence
Dilyn Stewart, Bakersfield
Amaya Stowe, South
EIGHTH GRADE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE RECOGNITION
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.® - Kappa Omega Omega Chapter and the Bakersfield Ivy Legacy Foundation, Inc. are pleased to recognize Honor Roll Students from the following School Districts:
Bakersfield City School District, Superintendent Mark Luque
Cato Middle School
Chipman Junior High School
Compton Junior High School
Curran Middle School
Downtown School
Emerson Middle School
Lincoln Junior High School
Sequoia Middle School
Sierra Middle School
Stiern Middle School
Washington Middle School
Edison School District, Superintendent Jairo Arellano
Edison Middle School
Fairfax School District, Superintendent Lora Brown
Fairfax Middle School
Fruitvale School District, Superintendent Leslie Garrison
Fruitvale Junior High School
Greenfield Union School District, Superintendent Ramon Hendrix
Greenfield Middle School
McKee Middle School
Ollivier Middle School
Norris School District, Superintendent Cy Silver
Norris Middle School
Panama-Buena Vista School District, Superintendent Katie Russell
Actis Junior High
Stonecreek Junior High
Tevis Junior High
Thompson Junior High
Warren Junior High
Rosedale Union School District, Superintendent Sue Lemon
Freedom Middle School
Rosedale Middle School
Standard School District, Superintendent Jocelyn Hively
Standard Middle School
Follow Uson Social Media
The Negro National Hymn: "Lift Every Voice and Sing"
by James Weldon Johnson
(June 17, 1871 - June 26, 1938)
Lift every voice and sing
Till earth and heaven ring, Ring with the harmonies of Liberty; Let our rejoicing rise
High as the listening skies,
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us,
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun
Let us march on till victory is won.
Stony the road we trod, Bitter the chastening rod, Felt in the days when hope unborn had died;
Yet with a steady beat, Have not our weary feet
Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?
We have come over a way that with tears have been watered,
We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered, Out from the gloomy past, Till now we stand at last
Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.
God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, Thou who has brought us thus far on the way;
Thou who has by Thy might Led us into the light, Keep us forever in the path, we pray.
Lest our feet stray from the places, Our God, where we met Thee;
Lest, our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee; Shadowed beneath Thy hand, May we forever stand.
True to our GOD, True to our native land
SPECIAL THANK YOU
Mayor Karen K. Goh, City of Bakersfield
Andrae Gonzales, Ward 2 Councilmember
Phillip Peters, Kern County Supervisor, 1st District
Chris Parlier, Kern County Supervisor, 2nd District
Jeff Flores, Kern County Supervisor, 3rd District
David Couch, Kern County Supervisor, 4th District
Leticia Perez, Kern County Board of Supervisors, Chairman, 5th District
Congressman David G. Valadao, United States Representative, 22nd Congressional District
Senator Shannon Lee Grove, California State Senate, 12th District
Dr. Vernon B. Harper, Jr., President, California State University, Bakersfield
Dr. John Mendiburu, Kern County Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Michael Zulfa, Superintendent, Kern High School District
Chris Ebenezer, Principal, Bakersfield Adventist Academy
Noel Leon, Principal, Garces Memorial High
Michael D. Stone, Coordinator of Visual and Performing Arts Department, Bakersfield City School District
Pastor Roland B. Banks and Pastor Marisa Banks, Compassion Christian Center
