Elkhart Indiana Black Expo 'Trailblazer Awards' recognize students' academic, athletic achievements

ELKHART COUNTY, Ind. -- In Elkhart County, the Elkhart Chapter of the Indiana Black Expo looks to the present and the future with the "Trailblazer Awards." 

Part of the annual tradition includes recognizing students' academic and athletic achievements.

The tradition started when Robert Taylor, president of the Elkhart Chapter of the Indiana Black Expo wanted to honor the work of African American students in the classroom. 

He says it came from wanting to create a way to promote positivity, after hearing how poorly Black students were doing in schools across the county.

To choose the winners, teachers are asked to give the names of the African American boy and girl in their class with the highest GPA starting in fourth grade. If students are tied, they both win the award. Taylor told ABC57 this year that 150 students were chosen with an average GPA of 3.3 across the winners. 

It’s an honor the students look forward to, and Taylor says it’s become a major achievement for students. This includes winner, Jarren Riley and Paris Qaiyim, who are winning this award for the second time.

This year the award expanded to Concord Community Schools for the first time. 

One of those winners is an eighth grader at Concord Junior High School, Iyana Bostic.

She says it means a lot to be one of the first students to win the award at Concord.

While the award is mostly for the classroom, there is one award that considers the students’ sports achievements, the Garvin Roberson Award.

It’s given every year to the top student-athletes. This year, for the first time, there will be two winners. ABC57 got a chance to speak with one of them, Shaniyah Stout, who says this award is a testament to her hard work over the past year.