Scholarships Not the Only Reward for 30 Black Students

COSTA MESA — When exuberant high school senior Jamaal Footman talks about growing up in Orange County, his bright smile fades away.

“I had to grow up and deal with always being the only African American kid in my grade or my school sometimes,” said Footman, 17, of Yorba Linda. “I was looked upon differently . . . another task I had to overcome.”

But on Sunday, Footman felt at home surrounded by 29 other accomplished black high school students who were awarded scholarships of $200 to $1,000 for achievements in academics, arts and literature, athletics and other categories.

The third annual event was sponsored by the Orange County chapter of Links Inc., a nationwide black women’s community service organization founded in 1946 in Philadelphia.

The group, which has 45 members in Orange County, seeks to help young African Americans connect with their culture. Black residents constitute less than 2% of the county’s general population, according to the 1990 U.S. Census.

“The culture is not here,” said Links co-chair Maxine Jackson of Yorba Linda. “As a parent of four myself, I want to make sure our kids are exposed to the positive accomplishments of black America.”

The Links scholarship program, funded by private donations from businesses and supporters primarily from black communities, has awarded $28,000 in scholarships to mostly Orange County students over the past two years.

To qualify for the awards this year, students submitted personal essays based on Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. They also entered their academic records and samples of their work in any of the four categories of academics, arts and literature, athletics, and community service. Three students were honored in each category. Two students also were selected by their peers for proven leadership.

Sunday’s awardees beamed with pride.

The first-place winners included Carlton Allen, a promising poet from Anaheim’s Esperanza High, who clinched the arts and literature award. He dazzled judges with his collection of poems that reflect upon his personal experiences.

Life is poetic, said the creative 17-year-old, also a track star and senior class vice president. In his poems, Allen describes struggle as a wilted flower deprived of sunshine. Love is an overpowering emotion. And friendship is the root of growth.

“My poems are based on life experiences,” Allen said. “Any time something important or significant happens to me, I just write a poem. It’s a good way to relax. It’s cool.”

Jackson, an aerospace engineer who has been with Links since 1989, said more talented and impressive students enter the program each year.

“These are the most motivated, energetic and upward-bound students,” she said. “They strive for excellence.”

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But high academic marks and athletic might were not the only requirements to qualify for the scholarships. All awardees completed a nine-month leadership program that involved attending monthly workshops on higher education, job fairs or museum trips to study black history and art.

Orange County’s Links, well-known for its 11 years of hosting debutante balls for young black women, ended the social event in 1994 because the group saw greater needs for all black youths.

“With all the changes in our society,” Jackson said, “we decided to step away from social etiquette programs, and are now preparing all teens for life after high school.”

The scholarship program is offered to all interested and willing students, most of whom are high-achieving.

First place in academics went to Melissa McDaniels, who juggles honors classes, volunteer work at her church and team captain duties for her varsity basketball team at Brethren Christian in Cypress.

Next year, soft-spoken McDaniels hopes to study law at Georgia’s Spelman College, an all-black women’s school ranked in the top 10 nationally. Raised in Harbor City, a predominantly white area in southern Los Angeles County, the honors student said, “I want to be with people from my background. I didn’t have this in high school, so this will be like a new experience for me.”

Kristi Hicks, a Carson High senior, won the first-place essay award. Lore Lavell from Huntington Beach High proudly accepted the community services award. Carlton Allen (again) and Nadia Evans from Cypress High received the leadership awards.

And of course Footman, a steely varsity football running back and track champion from Esperanza High, grabbed the lead athletics award.

Footman, who is being offered athletic scholarships from state universities nationwide, plans to study drama and go into acting. He said of Links, “It wasn’t about getting money. It taught me what I needed to do to excel in the areas I’m interested in.”

Allen said there have been benefits to being one of the few African Americans on campus: The competitive climate motivates him to do well, and his friends are of various cultures.

Originally from Inglewood, where the black community is larger, Allen added that the move to Orange County helped him appreciate his heritage more.

“People tend to flock to their own as the years go by,” he said. “I don’t make race an issue. But I’ve had to defend myself. I’m a black man, and that’s important.”