Students honored, empowered at 36th annual LCABSE awards program

ELYRIA — There are two components to equity — fairness and inclusion — Deona Davis told students at the Lorain County Alliance of Black School Educators' annual awards program Sunday. "Parents, do you remember getting the stool for your children? You give them a little boost, put them on a level playing field," said Davis, a Lorain native, businesswoman and financial secretary for the education alliance. "That's exactly what needs to happen in education." She urged the audience, made up largely of the top African American middle and high school students in Lorain County and their families, to do their part in supporting each other in education. For parents, that may look like spending extra time studying with their kids or helping look for outside tutoring. For students, it may look like reaching out for help when a subject in school just doesn't make sense. "You have to be in control of your destiny," Davis said. At Sunday's program, 12 students from Lorain County schools were awarded for being in the top 5 and 10 percent of their class academically, and 35 were recognized for receiving all A's on their report cards. Other students were recognized for participating in College Credit Plus and Early College High School programs through Lorain County Community College, which allows students to participate in college-level courses and earn credits, even a college associate degree, while still in high school. The 26 students participating collectively earned 783 college credits, LCCC President Marcia Ballinger said. More than 200 students from 26 different school buildings were honored with 2020 Lorain County Alliance of Black School Educators academic achievement awards. Davis, who was the first-ever recipient of a scholarship from the alliance, encouraged the students to have mentors and be open to people who speak into their lives. "They may see things in you that you don't see in yourself. You're just going about life," she said. This was the 22nd year the awards program was held at LCCC and its 36th year overall. Students also heard a motivational talk from Nichole Francis Reynolds, a Lorain native who has worked as a congressional aide and is now the vice president of government and public affairs for the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America. "Be sure to identify the people who truly care about you, not just the people who will tell you yes," she said. "You need people in your lives who will also tell you no." She told the students to set high goals and seek out knowledge about how the world operates. "Know your history, your value, and execute your vision," she said. Contact Dylan Reynolds at (440) 329-7123 or dreynolds@chroniclet.com. Follow him on Twitter @drey1357.