When Samiya Morrow reflected on how she could carry Rosa Parks’ legacy forward, she came to a conclusion: Black people need to be allowed to “shine” in media and culture more than they presently are.
A graduate of Cass Technical High School, Morrow outlined this assertion in the essay she submitted to the Rosa Parks Scholarship Foundation. As a result, she received a $3,000 scholarship from the foundation toward her pursuit of a business management degree at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.
“My goals in life are to give back to more communities and to make spaces that represent my people,” said Morrow, 18.
Morrow is one of 26 people in the foundation’s cohort of scholarship recipients this year. Established in 1980 by The Detroit News and the Detroit public school system, the awards seniors who share Parks’ values. The civil rights activist sparked the Montgomery bus boycott and spent the latter half of her life in Detroit.
Since its inception, the scholarship has given more than $2.5 million in scholarship money for tuition, books and fees to more than 1,300 high-achieving Michigan high school seniors. Scholarship winners may also apply for two paid summer internships at The Detroit News to learn about journalism.
Erica Thedford, a foundation board member and great niece of Parks, called the fund “a direct reflection” of her great aunt’s legacy.
“She was very passionate about the education of young people, so it’s very important to continue this,” said Thedford.
Thedford said the foundation always gives at least 21 scholarships annually but was able to give 26 this year thanks to donations. The amount also increased from $2,500 to $3,000; she said it’s always their goal to “give more” because education is getting more expensive.
Thedford found Morrow’s essay interesting, she said.
“We tend to think everything is equal now, because we see so many Black people on screen and in other forms of media. But she was very specific about the way Black people were portrayed — like, it’s always in a negative light, or it’s always a sad story. So she wanted more to focus on happy aspects,” said Thedford.
“She wanted to show that we have great stories too, and so I thought that was an interesting concept. So I wanted to speak with her about that more,” she said.
Morrow said she hopes to use her business management degree to “rewrite the way that Black people are perceived in media.” She wants to do this by creating positive spaces that allow this.
Asked about the scholarship, Morrow said she’s grateful it exists.
“I am very hopeful to see more people like me get amazing opportunities,” said Morrow.
The scholars
Here are the graduates:
Haneen Awada
Royal Oak High School
Hometown: Royal Oak
College: University of Michigan
Career plans: Physician
Parents: Rena and Sam Awada
Achievements: Interact Club president; The Roost Student-Run Coffee Shop president; student representative, Royal Oak Schools Board of Education (Finance and Facilities Committee); International Baccalaureate Diploma candidate; Gilda’s Club Metro Detroit ambassador
Rebecca Berry
Salem High School
Hometown: Canton
College: University of Michigan
Career plans: Physician/nonprofit founder
Parents: Michael and Kristi Berry
Achievements: Peace of Mind Empathy and Literacy Project founder and facilitator; Fostering Kindness Necessities Drive founder; National Merit Commendation; Spanish Club co-president, Warriors For a Healthy Mind vice president
Valerie Binge
Atlanta Community Schools
Hometown: Atlanta
College: Saginaw Valley State University
Career plans: Secondary Education
Parents: Ross and Laura Binge
Achievements: Valedictorian, Phi Theta Kappa All-Michigan Academic Team; Atlanta Community Schools highest GPA; Senior Athlete Award; Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society vice president
Eric Burnett
East English Village Preparatory Academy
Hometown: Detroit
College: Wayne State University
Career plans: Computer science or engineering
Parent: Nicole Massey
Achievements: Entrepreneurship credential received from passing a test and finishing my vocational school; opportunity to go to Africa to help build a school through a program called Building; several AP classes; certified for Google data analytics course; built an app; president of the buildOn program
Miles Dell
Chelsea High School
Hometown: Chelsea
College: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Career plans: Neuroscience/psychology
Parents: Jason and Kristyna Dell
Achievements: MHSAA Scholar-Athlete Award; Key Club treasurer; National Honor Society
Chloe M. Drouse
Pinconning High School
Hometown: Pinconning
College: Central Michigan University
Career plans: Physician assistant
Parents: Melissa and Rick Drouse
Achievements: First-place winner for the Patient-Care Technician Event at the Michigan HOSA State Leadership Conference; Patient-Care Technician intern; National Honor Society president; Varsity volleyball captain; Student Council member
Caila Fitchett
Dryden High School
Hometown: Almont
College: Hope College
Career plans: Psychologist
Parent: Rachel Fitchett
Achievements: Salutatorian; MHSAA Scholar Athlete recipient; National Honor Society president; Student Council vice president; Multiple Event State Qualifier for Track and Field; National Honor Society; Student Council vice president; class president
Gabrielle Gittens
Berrien Springs High School
Hometown: Berrien County
College: Yale College
Career plans: Mechanical engineering
Parents: Dionne and Marvin Gittens
Achievements: Black Student Association president; Feed the Hungry nonprofit founder; four-time Ivy League honoree; National Honor Society vice president; Bel Canto Choir (Performed at Carnegie Hall)
Hailee Hallman
Cass Technical High School
Hometown: Detroit
College: American University
Career plans: College professor
Parents: Halston Hallman and Jasmen Huey
Achievements: Best attorney award from Stanford Envision mock trial program; president of Cass Techs Big Brother Big Sister chapter; College Board scholar
Lourdes Henderson
Academy of the Sacred Heart
Hometown: Birmingham
College: University of Pennsylvania
Career plans: Investment banking
Parent: Joia Henderson
Achievements: Salutatorian; Coca-Cola Scholars semifinalist; Yale Young Global Scholar; University of Chicago Book Award; Scholastic All-Catholic Team
Fernanda Duran Jasso
Melvindale High School
Hometown: Melvindale
College: University of Detroit Mercy
Career plans: Robotics engineer
Parents: Nayeli Jasso and Fernando Duran
Achievements: Two-time recipient of Science Olympiad regional medal; National Honor Society; STEM Department Award recipient; Honor Roll student, grades 9-12; FIRST Robotics Competition Team 6914 programmer and member
Danielle LeBel
Freeland High School
Hometown: Freeland
College: University of Michigan Ross
Career plans: Financial adviser
Parents: Mark and Karen LeBel
Achievements: Salutatorian; Set three powerlifting state records; National Honor Society; Girls Hockey All-State honorable mention
Jeheon Lee
International Academy Okma
Hometown: Oakland County
College: University of California, Berkeley
Career plans: Startup founder
Parents: Minhwi Lee and Jiwon Lim
Achievements: U.S. Presidential Scholars Program candidate/nominee; Coca-Cola Scholars semifinalist; NASA SEES intern; MSBOA Outstanding Soloist; NSCDA Congressional Essay Michigan winner
Keira Little
Birch Run High School
Hometown: Montrose
College: Saginaw Valley State University
Career plans: Adolescent therapist
Parents: Amanda Lamrock and Jeremy Lee
Achievements: National Honor Society; Magna Cum Laude; public relations director for Forensics team
Na’Kayla Major
Summit Academy North High School
Hometown: Detroit
College: Michigan State University
Career plans: Child psychologist
Parent: Jamanda Irby
Achievements: United Nations Youth delegate; Student Council president; National Honor Society vice president; Outstanding Student Leadership Award recipient; Regional Right to Life Oratory Contest winner
Jayden Miller
Renaissance High School
Hometown: Wayne
College: Tuskegee University
Career plans: Pilot
Parents: Earl and Aisha Miller
Achievements: Renaissance High School Varsity basketball team captain and MVP; All-City Boys Basketball second team honors, Jack and Jill of America Inc. Regional Oratorical Competition finalist; Youth Volunteer Service Award recipient; Teen Foundation chair, Ypsilanti chapter; 100 Black Men of Greater Detroit second place Oratorical Competition winner; Project Success vice president; AAYI Chapter Kappa League member and volunteer
Samiya Morrow
Cass Technical High School
Hometown: Detroit
College: North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Career plans: Entrepreneur
Parent: Sharmeka Reynolds
Achievements: National Honor Society; first chair violinist; first-generation college student; honor roll; Friendship Bracelet Club president
Micaela Penchoff
Royal Oak High School
Hometown: Troy
College: University of Michigan
Career plans: Pediatric physical therapist
Parents: Nicholas and Theresa Penchoff
Achievements: Oakland Press Top Scholar; IB Diploma Programme candidate; Oakland Activities Association All-League athlete; National Honors Society
Dinah Pierson
Renaissance High School
Hometown: Flat Rock
College: Howard University
Career plans: Artistic director
Parent: Tracey Pierson
Achievements: National Honor Society historian; Magna cum laude; Council on International Educational, Exchange Merit Scholarship recipient
Blake Register
University Liggett School
Hometown: Detroit
College: Howard University
Career plans: Endocrinology
Parents: Rajoielle and Derrick Register
Achievements: 2025 Children’s Congress Delegate with Breakthrough Type One Diabetes; Breakthrough Type One Diabetes ambassador; assistant director of Mack and Mabel musical; secretary/board member of Black, Student Union-University Liggett School; Detroit Urban League recipient
Elijah Robinson
Cass Technical High School
Hometown: Detroit
College: Albany State University (HBCU)
Career plans: Forensic accountant
Parent: Raelanda Robinson
Achievements: Cum laude honors, College and Beyond Midnight Golf; Community service (both domestic and international); Cass Tech Boys Varsity Track and Field; Cass Tech Boys Varsity Golf
Chay’ce Smith
Kenowa Hills High School
Hometown: Grand Rapids
College: Morehouse College
Career plans: CPA/Corporate business strategist
Parent: Tyler Smith
Achievements: High School Rotary Club founder; president of district-wide student news platform; District Student Board representative; Kenowa Hills Kent ISD Student Delegate
Carlisia Thomas
Divine Child High School
Hometown: Dearborn
College: Howard University
Career plans: Lawyer
Parents: Danielle Provencher and Carlos Thomas
Achievements: National Honors Society; First Generation Recognition Award; high honors graduate
Georgia Tocco
Jackson High School
Hometown: Jackson
College: Barnard College of Columbia University
Career plans: Public policy
Parents: Jennie O’Brien and Phillip Tocco
Achievements: Gold Award Girl Scout; valedictorian; City of Jackson Youth Council vice chair; JHS marching band drum major; JHS Student Government president
James Townsel
Divine Child High School
Hometown: Lincoln Park
College: University of Maryland at College Park
Career plans: Electrical engineer
Parents: Shannon and Rosezella Townsel
Achievements: Co-founder of free math tutoring program (T Squared Tutoring LLC); National Honor Society; Ann Arbor Kappa League; National Society of Black Engineers Jr; Detroit News/CATCH 2026 Outstanding Graduate
Cheick Traore
Early College Alliance @ Eastern Michigan University
Hometown: Ann Arbor
College: Michigan State University
Career plans: Biomedical engineering
Parents: Aissata and Ismaila Traore
Achievements: National Society of Black Engineers secretary and co-vice president at Lawrence Technological University; Hawa’s Wheels of Hope nonprofit founder and president; four-time Dean’s List at Eastern Michigan University; ECA Engineering Club co-president; VISL Student Leader of the Month Award
Honorable mention
The Rosa Parks Scholarship Foundation would also like to recognize the following students. Because of their stellar academic performance, they have been awarded other major scholarships that have made them ineligible to a 2026 scholarship. These students are excellent examples of what a Rosa Parks Scholar should be, and we want to acknowledge them.
Timothy Carter, Cass Technical High School
Haylie Chang, Waterford Mott High School
Nicole Clark-Bruce, Detroit School of Arts
Connor Hicks, The School at Marygrove, Detroit
Onanna Jacy, Cass Technical High School
Kennedi Marsh, Marian High School, Bloomfield Hills
Diaka Sandouno, Early College Alliance @ EMU, Ypsilanti
Ayaat Shiaab, Henry Ford Early College
Khloé Travis, Cass Technical High School
Jeniffer Ukomadu, Renaissance High School
Rosa Parks Scholarship Foundation – board members
James Rosenfeld, foundation president; shareholder, Butzel Long, P.C.
Walter Middlebrook, foundation vice president; foster professor of practice, Bellisario College of Communications, Pennsylvania State University; former assistant managing editor, The Detroit News
Marcia Hart, foundation secretary; retired, Detroit Media Partnership
Terri Barnett Coleman, foundation treasurer; retired, North America Product Development, General Motors Corp.
Dorothy Cocroft, foundation assistant secretary; retired, labor relations, General Motors Corp.
Benita R. Miller, Esq., foundation assistant treasurer; senior director of strategy, planning and operations, City of Detroit
Erica Thedford, foundation recording secretary; great niece of Mrs. Parks, scopist
Jon Goldstein Sr., senior director of development, MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine
Delora Hall Tyler, foundation past president; president, First Media Group Inc.
Dawn Ison, attorney; former United States attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan
Danielle McGuire, Ph.D.; civil rights historian, award-winning author
Isaiah McKinnon, Ph.D.; retired associate professor, University Detroit Mercy; former chief of police and deputy mayor, City of Detroit
Gary Miles, editor and publisher, The Detroit News
Alicia Nails, director, Journalism Institute for Media Diversity, Wayne State University
Sherida D. DuBose Parsons, medical director, Molina Healthcare of Michigan
Robin Schwartz, founder and CEO of Robin Schwartz PR; former Fox 2 News anchor/reporter
Barbara K. Smith, Ph.D.; cofounder and executive director, Michigan Underground Railroad Exploratory Collective; retired counseling director, Detroit Public Schools Community District
Robert E. Thomas, J.D., regulatory and privacy, Ford Motor Co.
Kim Trent, foundation immediate past president; deputy director-prosperity for the State of Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity; Rosa Parks Scholarship Foundation scholar
How to apply for the scholarship
Michigan high school students are encouraged to apply for a one-time $3,000 scholarship named in honor of civil rights icon Rosa Parks. Applications are typically due on March 1 each school year. For more information, see rosaparksscholarship.org.
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: 2026 Rosa Parks scholars: Creating opportunities for more to ‘shine’
Reporting by Max Bryan, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Max Bryan, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
