Dozens of bursaries, scholarships handed out at 2025 John C. Holland Awards celebrating Black youth
CBC
A record 38 awards and scholarships were handed out during the 2025 Reverend John C. Holland Awards.
The event, which celebrates Black community achievements and contributions to Hamilton by Black youth, took place on Feb. 21.
Terri Bedminster, an executive on the Hamilton Black History committee, said there were 100 shortlisted nominees with wide-ranging talents and accomplishments.
"Kudos to the graduation coaches from a number of schools, and to the teachers, guidance counsellors who did really, really well this year to get the number of applications in," Bedminster said.
"There was a huge community … an increased support for students to apply."
Maya Ahmed, a 17-year-old student at Westmont Secondary School, was awarded a youth achievement bursary, sponsored by the Hamilton Black Council. It's awarded to a student or students who have made outstanding academic or other societal achievements.
"They deemed me worthy of that, and I'm very, very grateful for it, and I'm grateful that my work toward helping with social issues was being recognized," Maya told CBC Hamilton.
While she knew she had been nominated for an award, Maya said she wasn't really expecting to actually win anything.
"When my name got called … I was frozen, like, in shock… It was very shocking and I rushed toward the stage. It felt like I was just transported to a fantasy land for a second there," she said.
"I'm very, very thankful, especially as a first-generation immigrant that wants to pursue studies in law later on and to become a lawyer. This is already such a big milestone for me and the fact that the council deemed me worthy of such an award was so exhilarating."
Maya's mom, Mona Ali, said she has "always, always made me proud since she was like a baby, and when she got that award, I was crying and crying."
"When she's up on the stage, she said, 'I want to thank everyone and thank my mom.' It [was special]. I'm really proud of her and I know she has a very bright future."
Deborah Kenea, 17, was awarded the YWCA Hamilton Young Woman – Trailblazer Scholarship, given to a young woman pursuing studies in a field that closely aligns to advancing women's issues.
"I honestly did not believe I would win an award. I only went for, like, the Instagram pictures," Deborah told CBC Hamilton.
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