We all would like to be remembered for something that we
accomplished or stood for in life, to be known as more than just another ordinary
person, to be seen as someone who actually made an impact on this world, be
known as someone who truly made a difference. I certainly want to accomplish
something that can make the future a little brighter for others. I intend to
live a life that will be of service to people. Being that I'm one of the first
two individuals in my family to go to college, I've always had a desire to be
great and do great things. I was very excited when I got accepted to an HBCU,
Coppin State University. In the fall of 2019 I started attending Coppin State, where I am
majoring in nursing. I have been excelling ever since. My grades are above
average and I always strive to be my very best.
My future plan is to become a neonatal nurse/doctor not only
for my love of newborns, but more importantly, because of the extremely high
rate of African American mothers dying during or after childbirth due to the
lack of caring/affordable healthcare. The African American maternal mortality
rate is three times higher than white and Hispanic women. Black women are being
denied medical attention due to the simple fact that they are not believed or
are silent on expressing what exactly is going on with their bodies. As a
result they don't get the medical treatment necessary to ensure a successful
pre and post delivery of their baby. Quite frankly I think this is outrageous.
Black women are dying and their children are growing up without a mother. One
day I intend to have a medical practice/clinic where women can come and
experience pregnancy and childbirth for the blissful blessing God intended it
to be. My clinic will give African American women the education, medical care
and treatment they not only need but more importantly deserve. My future legacy
is to improve healthcare provided to these women.
SAVANNAH KALINOWSKI - Legacy Honoree
Growing up in a time where Women are finally getting the
voice they deserve, its important that my legacy in the future and my present
life as a young women reflects that. I would like girls and young girls from
all over the world to be able to look at me and think that they can do exactly
what I did with no problem.
Being a sports management major in an area that has been
mostly male dominated until now makes me excited to work in the industry where women
are slowly but surely integrating themselves in. For example, Becky Hammon was
the first female NBA assistant coach. This is able to give younger girls a far
more accessible opportunity than many girls in the past. In the past the sports
industry was always dominated by men and not just jobs, but the athletes
themselves. Now more female teams are thriving in the same market that male
teams are. There is even a newly made NWHL which is the women's national hockey
league which is hoped to house as many teams as the men's national hockey
league one day. I want to own my own sports team and hire more females in an
industry that is becoming more open to that. I want to create foundations and
summer camps that help girls gain confidence and self-esteem. It's important
for girls to know how to handle themselves and to stick up for themselves but
also learning how to carry themselves along with that.
I want to be an inspiration to young girls who believe that
big dreams are not worth trying. I want to change the minds of young girls that
they can get a job in any and every profession that they want to. My legacy
will be to empower young girls and women to believe in themselves because they
are enough.
AMIRAH MUHAMMAD - Legacy Honoree
I want my legacy to show that I was true to myself
throughout my life and career. That I decided who I wanted to be and what I
wanted to do, and I set out to achieve it. I would like my future legacy to be
an example that as long as you love your work, and are focused and driven, you
can achieve greatness to the highest degree in whatever field you envision
yourself in. Of course, there may be trials and tribulations along the way.
However, I intend to be an example that it's possible to persevere through
difficulties and show from my accomplishments that no dream is impossible.
The performing arts have been an important part of my life
since I was very young. I began studying violin and ballet at the age of three,
and I've diligently continued my studies as a pre-professional dancer. I feel
that it's extremely important that young children everywhere get the
opportunity to express themselves, not just through academic excellence, but
through artistic expression in the performing arts. In addition to my dream of
becoming a professional dancer with a major dance company, I would like to
start my own performing arts school one day and pass down a standard of
artistic excellence for many generations to come. I would love to share my knowledge
and experience with younger generations and help them fulfill their greatest
potential.
Lastly, I want to help create opportunities for black
dancers to showcase their excellence in classical dance. Growing up in a home
where the classical arts were encouraged and supported, I found it shocking
when I would perform with other orchestras or ballet schools and I was the only
black person in the room. As many trailblazers who came before me, such as
Alvin Ailey, Debbie Allen, and Misty Copeland, I would love to help inspire
young black dancers in the pursuit of their dreams. Thanks to the sacrifices
and hard work of the legends who came before me, my generation of black dancers
has more opportunities to do what we love. I would like to continue paving the
way, so that there can be even greater opportunities for black dancers in the
years to come.
I feel that it is part of my calling to not only be a
performer, but to also teach and inspire the next generation of violinists,
black ballerinas, and performing artists like myself. I am inspired to work
hard so that my future legacy is one that has a lasting impact on young artists
working tirelessly to achieve their dreams.
KENETRIA REDFERN - Legacy Honoree
A legacy is often thought of in terms of monetary amounts or
property. However, I feel as though a legacy is the memory of what you have
left behind or how you impacted people and society in your lifetime. Memories
of one's character seem to be the most substantial because a lot of times as
Maya Angelou once said "At the end of the day people won't remember what
you have said or done, rather they will remember how you have made them
feel." Legacies often give guidance from those who have already
experienced the highs and lows in life, and are left for those to take heed to.
My future legacy is to change the narrative of how to reach
your goals.
Most people feel as though they have to take the scenic
route or what they want will never come to pass. Or reach certain things in
life by a certain time or they have failed, which is untrue. I am one of many
successful African Americas who can prove that point otherwise. This includes
big names such as Viola Davis (40), Wendy Williams (44), Morgan Freeman (50)
and Samuel L. Jackson (46). All of which did not reach their dreams until over
the age of 40. While my story is still being written, I have sacrificed
everything to obtain my dream of playing Division 1 basketball at a
Historically Black College.
My route to getting here wasn't typical; I have attended
three colleges thus far. I attended Livingstone College my freshman year and
decided to leave because basketball was not going in my favor. I then
transferred to Niagara County Community College to allow myself time to grow
and learn as a basketball player and as a woman while being close to home. I
stayed there for two years, taking the first year off from basketball and just
taking academic courses to regain my focus and confidence within myself.
Adamant I could play at the Division I level I continued and followed my heart.
Many people deemed me foolish for not pursuing other options during this time
in my career. But, this allowed me time to mature on and off the court and
prepared me for my next steps in life. Upon various successes academically and
athletically at Niagara my second year, I was awarded a full athletic
scholarship to play at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Nevertheless,
when God has a calling on your life he will open doors that you thought would
be jammed and make room for you at tables where there are no seats left. He
qualifies the called even when the called are not qualified. I am a walking
testimony that when your faith is as strong as your desire and resolve to get
to where you want to be, God will make room.
I am currently a junior attending the University of Maryland
Eastern Shore playing Division 1 basketball. I have received my Associates
Degree in Sports Management at NCCC and am pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in
General Studies with a concentration in English and a minor in Digital Media. I
received a 4.0 this past semester and have an overall GPA of a 3.6. I'm unsure
of what the future holds for me, but what I am sure of is that God provides. I
have been unsure of my path with every step I have taken since the beginning of
high school. I have been walking by faith and not by sight for a very long time
and God never ceases to place me right where I need to be. And that is what I
am striving for my legacy to be. I want to be an everlasting reminder that it's
okay to not have all the answers. Also, if that includes following God's plan
instead of your own, you're probably better off. Mark 11:24 says “Therefore I
tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it,
and it will be yours.”
Wait your turn - Trust your PROCESS
SHAYLA TILLMAN - Legacy Honoree
It was during the spring of senior year that I learned one
of the most valuable lessons of my life. I learned that the obstacles that
block success only last for a moment. True success is measured by how you
handle the obstacles.
Surprisingly enough, this lesson would be learned from
reading Michelle Obama's book, "Becoming". This book challenged me on
a level that I previously had taken for granted. First, I developed a deeper
appreciation for the struggles and fears that African-American women must
endure. The choices women must make when choosing to express themselves can,
will, and does have an enormous impact on their personal and professional lives
for generations to come. I understood for the first time that African-American women
have great power and with that power comes great responsibility.
I found myself aware, for the first time, of the enormous
responsibility that had been handed over to me regarding my own future. I now
find myself dealing with similar struggles and fears as I have taken primary
responsibility for all my adult and peer relationships. I find myself asking
questions and being forced to make decisions that are frankly new to me. I
thought often while reading about Michelle Obama's life, how as a woman, she
must have wrestled with many of these same inner feelings.
I do believe I am instilled with a belief system that
directs my future path. I believe in taking on the challenge of becoming a
chemical engineer and a prestigious example to young African-American girls who
seek careers in science. I have always believed that if you have the power to
do something, you should harness that power and develop it for good. History
and tradition teach me about what it is to be an African-American woman growing
up in America. I take pride in the moral choices I must make based on who I am
and what I want to become.
Mark Twain wrote "The two most important days in your
life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” It is this search
for why that now drives me to define myself. I am looking forward to embracing
the challenge.
We all would like to be remembered for something that we
accomplished or stood for in life, to be known as more than just another ordinary
person, to be seen as someone who actually made an impact on this world, be
known as someone who truly made a difference. I certainly want to accomplish
something that can make the future a little brighter for others. I intend to
live a life that will be of service to people. Being that I'm one of the first
two individuals in my family to go to college, I've always had a desire to be
great and do great things. I was very excited when I got accepted to an HBCU,
Coppin State University. In the fall of 2019 I started attending Coppin State, where I am
majoring in nursing. I have been excelling ever since. My grades are above
average and I always strive to be my very best. 
Growing up in a time where Women are finally getting the
voice they deserve, its important that my legacy in the future and my present
life as a young women reflects that. I would like girls and young girls from
all over the world to be able to look at me and think that they can do exactly
what I did with no problem. 
I want my legacy to show that I was true to myself
throughout my life and career. That I decided who I wanted to be and what I
wanted to do, and I set out to achieve it. I would like my future legacy to be
an example that as long as you love your work, and are focused and driven, you
can achieve greatness to the highest degree in whatever field you envision
yourself in. Of course, there may be trials and tribulations along the way.
However, I intend to be an example that it's possible to persevere through
difficulties and show from my accomplishments that no dream is impossible. 
A legacy is often thought of in terms of monetary amounts or
property. However, I feel as though a legacy is the memory of what you have
left behind or how you impacted people and society in your lifetime. Memories
of one's character seem to be the most substantial because a lot of times as
Maya Angelou once said "At the end of the day people won't remember what
you have said or done, rather they will remember how you have made them
feel." Legacies often give guidance from those who have already
experienced the highs and lows in life, and are left for those to take heed to. 
It was during the spring of senior year that I learned one
of the most valuable lessons of my life. I learned that the obstacles that
block success only last for a moment. True success is measured by how you
handle the obstacles. 
