“NURTURING EXCELLENCE”

1. “NURTURING EXCELLENCE”

2. KEY NOTE SPEAKERS Sarai Rivera, Worcester city Councilor who is currently serving her first two-year term as District Four Councilor. Kathleen Toomey, serving her fourth two-year term as aCouncilor At-Large in Worcester, MA.

3. FACE2FACE AFRICA Face2face Africa (F2FA), a media company with the mission of restoring Africa's image within the global community.

4. 54 KINGDOMS 54 Kingdoms, a Pan-African Fashion Company “When you blend fashion with culture and identity, you dress for a PURPOSE!” – 54 Kingdoms

5. PANAL MEMBERS Ms. Botais a Senior Analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. She holds the responsibility offinancial analyses of complex financial institutions and proposing resolutions to associated legal, regulatory and supervisory issues. Prior to joining the Boston Fed, Ms. Bota was the Assistant Vice President and Director of Credit Union monitoring at the Massachusetts Credit Union Share Insurance Corporation (MSIC). She also worked at Bank of New York Mellon, CDC IXIS Asset Management Company, and Putnam Investments in Boston, MA. MARGARET BOTA

6. COLLINS NUAMAH Mr. Nuamahholds a Bachelor's degree in Commerce from the University of Cape Coast and a Master of Science degree in Banking and Financial Services from Boston University. Mr. Nuamah has a unique expertise in the area of marketing, financial analysis, tax administration and management of small business enterprises. He is currently a Managing Partner – Operations, and heads the tax and financial services department of GIMP Management and Tax Consultancy.

7. MARGARET RWARAMBA Ms.Rwaramba attended Fitchburg State College where she received a B.S in Human Services. She holds a Masters degree in Social Work from Boston College and currently works as Director of Victim/Witness Assistance Program of District Attorney Joseph D. Early, Jr.

8. MEET THE 2012 RECIPIENTS Bleejay Innis Bleejay Innis, a graduate from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a bachelors degree in International Business. As a young entrepreneur, Bleejay has a strong passion for the advancement of young minds. This passion led him to pursue the dream of developing an organization that would help cultivate those young minds. The Sponsor-One Foundation is a non-profit organization with the mission of assisting children with education in rural areas of Liberia. 

9. Trisha Kwarko , a Biology student from the University of Connecticut traveled to Ghana May 2012 to offer free medical services to the people of Srafo Aboano, a village-community in the Central Region of Ghana. Together with 35 other students and a physician, Trisha and her team spent the 11-day trip running a clinic for the community members. They were able to serve a total of 801 patients in Srafo Aboano and its neighboring communities. Over 140 people had pain diagnoses, nearly 100 with infectious diseases, 35 with respiratory diseases, and 35 with chronic illnesses. Every person received a 3-month supply of prescribed multi-vitamins as well as specific medications for their symptoms. Many of thepeople were given free referrals to the closest main hospital for further medical treatment. Trisha Kwarko

10. Cornelius Taabazuing, a graduate from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. While pursuing a Ph.D. degree in Chemistry, Cornelius additionally holds a position as a Community Standards Graduate Assistant at Umass. His job responsibilities include researching various policies, representing Residential Education in committees and university related events. He also develops and facilitates educational sanctions and assist in the development and delivery of training, presentations, and workshops for members of the university community. Cornelius Taabazuing

11. Akosua A. Yeboah Akosua A. Yeboah, a graduate from the University of Massachusetts Lowell with a bachelors degree in Civil Engineering. Akosua’s compassion for children has led her to ensure the ongoing of an orphanage called Kumasi Children’s Home in Ghana. She gathers basic necessities such as diapers, wipes, beddings, towels, lotion, clothing and sends it to the orphanage yearly to fulfill the needs of the children. Not only does Akosua send these items but also travels to Ghana to visit the orphanage and make sure her efforts are indeed making an impact in the lives of “her children” as she calls them.

12. After a spring break trip to Haiti volunteering with the Haitian American Caucus, the trip became an eye-opening and life changing experience for Ms. Armoo-Daniels. The following year she organized a second trip bringing ten of her Spelman sisters offering volunteer services.  As a Second Attendant to Miss Spelman College during her senior year,  the platform "The Danger of a Single Story: Eradicate Illiteracy" allowed her to focus on helping the students of the Praise Community Library of the Share Foundation of Ghana. She wrote a play to raise awareness based on letters received from the children of the Share Foundation. Through collaboration with the African Student Association, she received over hundred books to donate to the Share Foundation. Margaret Armoo-Daniels

13. “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”

14. CELEBRATION OF EXCELLENCE