By By KATHIE HEMPEL / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Children from kindergarten to high school seniors came to be recognized for their academic achievements.
The annual honor ceremony for students who attend Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Niles was held at the Bell Building, 303 Third St., Niles, Saturday evening. Three of the seniors received $1,000 scholarships to help with the cost of their post secondary education.
"When I first came here four years ago there were zero African American graduates from Niles High School. This year I believe there will be approximately 30. This is why we honor those from our church, from any of the churches, who continue on achieving within the academic system with honors," Pastor Brian Bacon said.
The keynote for the event was Judge Harper McCree, whose father was the first African American to serve on Michigan's Court of Record. His father was also the second black federal judge and the second to be Solicitor General and founder of a state-wide scholarship for African American students.
"Most of the young people who appear before me have no role model. They have no history passed down to them. As a boy I had vivid stories of my heritage. Many of the young men who appear before me have never met their paternal grandfather, if indeed they have even met their fathers," he said.
He spoke to the need to rebuild the family. The hopeless and absence of job opportunities he attributes to a sense of desperation among the young black community today.