JaDair McGowan discovered his love of filmmaking after watching the movie “The Color Purple," the story of a Black woman who suffers abuse and bigotry living in the South in the early 1900s. Since then, he has produced two short films, appeared on Detroit Public Television, directed a student TV show, and competed in film competitions, all while attending high school.
“I want to tell stories that are reflective of young Black cultures and young students in the LGBTQ+ community. I would like to change the monolithic way that Black characters are portrayed on television,” McGowan said.
McGowan, a Detroiter and recent graduate of the Detroit School of the Arts, hopes to attend Grand Valley State University to study entrepreneurship and film.
“In the future, I plan to be my own business owner and entrepreneur. I want to own my own film company who does contracts with artists and laborers,” McGowan said.
McGowan will be the first person in his family to attend college in part because of a scholarship from the Rosa Parks Scholarship Foundation, an organization devoted to financially supporting postsecondary education.
This past year, the foundation gave 30 high school seniors scholarships of $2,500, an amount larger than previous years, that can be applied toward tuition, room and board, and other fees associated with college. Students who receive the scholarship also have an opportunity for paid internships at The Detroit News.
The recipients were selected from a pool of over 200 applicants based on their academics, community service, financial need and demonstrated commitment to the values of Rosa Parks, the Black civil rights icon known for refusing to give up her seat to a White man on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1955.
“The mission of this foundationis to identify students through their academic achievements and community service opportunities who would endeavor to participate in society in a manner that would reflect Mrs. Park’s values of civility and social justice,” said James Rosenfeld, president of the Rosa Parks Scholarship Foundation.
The 44th annual Rosa Parks Scholarship awards luncheon will honor the scholarship recipients on Wednesday at Wayne County Community College District's northwest Detroit campus. New scholars will read their essays and two speakers will address the scholars: alumna of the year E'Lois Thomas, a 1989 Rosa Parks scholar, and featured speaker Khary Kimani Turner.
The Rosa Parks Scholarship Foundation was created in 1980 as a collaboration between The Detroit News, the Detroit Public Schools and Rosa Parks herself, who lived in Detroit for part of her life.Over the past four decades, the foundation has awarded over $2 million in scholarship funds to more than 1,600 Michigan high school seniors.
Rosa Parks’ great-niece, Erica Thedford, currently serves on the foundation's board.
“This scholarship has helped underprivileged children gain an education," Thedford said."By doing that, it continues my aunt’s passion for education. Money is a huge deterrent to pursuing college, and this scholarship offers a little help."
Thedford lived with her famous relative when she was young and said she pursued an education because of the influence Parks had on her.
“What stuck with me the most was her tenacity. It reverberated from her," Thedford said. "She was always a little quiet, but quiet and forceful at the same time. I am a lifelong student because she always pushed me to be one. She emphasized that education is the one thing that can never be taken from you no matter what."
Thedford said each of this year's scholarship recipients showed a commitment to community service in their essays.
“It was a really difficult choice to narrow it down," Thedford said."They all had that tenacity that she had. They all wanted to make a difference in their own communities, both locally and globally."
McGowan said he appreciates receiving a scholarship that emphasizes the same values he has.He applied for the scholarship after learning Parks lived in Detroit.
"I found it impactful that someone was so close to the civil rights movement and so close to home, so I decided to apply and inspire other young black folks to follow her path," McGowan said.
Another scholarship recipient, Nevaeh Nesbitt, graduated from Southfield Christian School and often volunteered to teach art to children in hospitals and schools.
“I see the need for more opportunity for people of color to tap into their creative side," Nesbitt said. "They are taking a lot of programs out of schools right now and art is the first thing to get cut. My goal for graphic design is to start a nonprofit that goes around to different schools and starts summer camps doing projects that are fun for kids."
Nesbitt said she wants to use her career to give back to Detroit.
“I want to shed a light on the city of Detroit. For so long it has had a bad reputation, but there is so much more to our city that is going on and I want to be a part of the team that makes it great,” Nesbitt said.
Here are the graduates:
Zeinab Majid AlRabiah
J.W. Sexton High School
Hometown: Lansing
College: University of Michigan or Michigan State University
Career plans: Finance
Parents: Majid AlRabiah and Amira AlSultan
Achievements: Associate In General Insurance Certification (AINS); class salutatorian; Crisis Text Line volunteer; student government member
Malaya Bagley
Detroit Edison Public School Academy
Hometown: Southfield
College: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Career plans: Neuroscientist
Parents: Michael and Michelle Bagley
Achievements: Wolverine Pathways completion certificate for six years in the program; DAPCEP award for outstanding academic performance; national recognition from college board; PTO AKA Teens award for outstanding community service; Pink and White Scholarship Ball Award; Principal’s Award; lacrosse; debate team
Chayann Bantom
Cass Technical High School
Hometown: Detroit
College: Spelman College
Career plans: Developmental and clinical psychology
Parents: Kenyatta and Charmarrah Bantom
Achievements: Graduating Summa cum laude with a 4.1 GPA; student from Cranbrook Horizons Upward Bound; member of Cass Tech’s National Honors Society
Katelyn Bielas
Rogers City High School
Hometown: Presque Isle
College: Ferris State University
Career plans: Biomedical scientist
Parents: John and Jane Bielas
Achievements: Salutatorian; National Honor Society, student council, class vice president, Youth Advisory Council
Kate Burba
Flushing High School
Hometown: Flushing
College: Point Loma Nazarene University
Career plans: Teacher
Parents: Kari and Mark Burba
Achievements: Vice president of National Honor Society; AP Scholar with Honor; class officer; Rotary Interact Club co-president
Audrey Cooper
Portland High School
Hometown: Portland
College: Howard University
Career plans: Lawyer
Parents: Vincent Cooper and Stephanie Manshum
Achievements: National Honor Society; Youth AAU basketball coach; Horatio Alger Association Scholar
Liberty Cullen
LaSalle High School
Hometown: St. Ignace
College: West Virginia University
Career plans: International business
Parents: Richard and Mary Cullen
Achievements: Cass president; Youth Advisory Committee president; National Honor Society; U.P Wrestling All-Academic Team; 5 Varsity Sport Letterman
Olivia Fedak
Pinconning High School
Hometown: Pinconning
College: Michigan Technological Engineering
Career plans: Chemical engineer
Parents: Lisa and Niles Fedak
Achievements: Dow Chemical Company High School Co-Op; 2024 Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen; Executive Student Council vice president; National Honor Society; AP Scholar with distinction
Sarai Gonzalez
Hope of Detroit Academy
Hometown: Detroit
College: University of Dallas
Career plans: Doctor, emergency medicine
Parent: Yolanda Cruz
Achievements: Valedictorian; Honor Society, Award of Excellence in the Visual Arts
Marwa Hassan
East Kentwood High School
Hometown: Kentwood
College: Grand Rapids Community College
Career plans: Medicine
Parents: Abdullahi Hassan and Sadia Nurow
Achievements: Summa cum laude; honor roll; internship; National Honor Society; Muslim Student Association
Kiona Henry
Grand Blanc High School
Hometown: Flint
College: Wayne State University
Career plans: Nurse to anesthesiologist
Parents: Kimta and Michael Henry
Achievements: Genesee Career Institute Certified Nursing Assistant License; Genesee Career Institute Patient Care Technician License; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated Akettes Youth Group member; Black Scholar of the National Sorority Phi Delta Kappa Inc. - Gamma Delta Chapter; Grand Blanc High School Student Government executive president; Grand Blanc High School Girls Varsity Soccer Program; Health Occupations Students of America Organization (HOSA)
Kelli Higgins
Jackson High School
Hometown: Jackson
College: Harvard University
Career plans: Constitutional lawyer
Parents: Tracy and Grady Higgins
Achievements: Jackson High School valedictorian; Jackson High Reflector Newspaper editor-in-chief; Yale Young Global Scholar; Michigan Senate intern; National Honor Society, social services leader
Jada Ingram
Cass Technical High School
Hometown: Detroit
College: Lawrence Technological University
Career plans: Architectural designer
Parent: Freida Ingram
Achievements: Owner of JustKicksbyJay; Girls in Engineering Academy teacher’s assistant; National Honor Society; Midnight Golf Program alum; graduated summa cum laude
Malaak Jadallah
Fordson High School
Hometown: Dearborn
College: University of Michigan-Dearborn
Career plans: Engineer
Parents: Malakeh and Nader Jadallah
Achievements: Lieutenant Governor of Division 12 in Key Club; Concert master of the Fordson Symphony Orchestra; captain of the Track and Cross Country team; Outstanding President Award-Key Club; National Honor Society
Scarlett Elizabeth Kihn
Flushing High School
Hometown: Flushing
College: Grand Valley State University
Career plans: Occupational Therapist
Parents: Aimee Martin and Kevin Kihn
Achievements: Class vice president; Student Council vice president; Key Club president; National Honor Society; Grand Valley Laker Dance Team member
Ryann Leyko
Tri County High School
Hometown: Howard City
College: Central Michigan University
Career plans: Clinical psychiatrist
Parents: Kimberly and James Leyko
Achievements: Class valedictorian; Drum Major of TCMB; State Finalist Cheer Captain; National Honors Society
JaDair McGowan
Detroit School of Arts High School
Hometown: Detroit
College: Grand Valley State University
Career plans: Entrepreneur and/or film director
Parents: Zemira Franklin and Derrick McGowan
Achievements: Vice president of the 2024 senior class; Officers PBIS Ambassadors president; published photographer in 2020’s Perspectives Magazine
Mikayla Mertes
Grayling High School
Hometown: Grayling
College: Kirtland Community College
Career plans: Certified Public Accountant
Parents: Jay Mertes and Amanda Fegan
Achievements: Lake Michigan Conference All-Academic Team member; Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant; National Honor Society member; former Student Voice Leadership Committee representative
Farah Mohamed
High school: Universal Academy
Hometown: Detroit
College: Wayne State University
Career plans: Pediatric nurse or OB/GYN nurse
Parent: Tawfik Mohamed
Achievements: National Honor Society, class salutatorian, part of student government
Nevaeh Nesbitt
Southfield Christian School
Hometown: Detroit
College: Michigan State University
Career plans: Graphic designer
Parents: Tyronza and Nicole Nesbitt
Achievements: Certificate of Honor-Service Award; Distinguished Christian High School Student Award; High School Leadership Team member; Yearbook editor; Horatio Alger Scholarship Award recipient
Hiba Obeid
Fordson High School
Hometown: Dearborn Heights
College: University of Detroit Mercy
Career plans: Dentist
Parents: Amal Baiz and Ali Obeid
Achievements: Currently ranked second out of 475 in class; president of the UNICEF Club for two consecutive years and Joyful Heart Foundation Club for three consecutive years; over 300 hours of community service; AP Scholar with Distinction Award; National Honors Society
Dev Patel
Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy
Hometown: Saginaw
College: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Career plans: Neurosurgeon
Parents: Nilesh and Suraxa Patel
Achievements: National Honor Society; Science Quiz Bowl co-captain; International Astronomy and Astrophysics Bronze honor; Michigan Governor Youth Service Award; Saginaw County Medical Society essay writing contest first place winner ‘23 and ’24; U.S Metric award; AP Scholar
Rawad Rahal
Crestwood High School
Hometown: Dearborn Heights
College: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Career plans: Aerospace engineer
Parents: Lynda Haidar and Bassel Rahal
Achievements: NASA GLOBE researcher; Amity Club District Board representative and club vice president; Varsity Football captain; ASAP Youth Coalition Leader; Cofounder of Smile Forever Organization
McKenna Ryan-Elbert
Shrine Catholic High School
Hometown: Royal Oak
College: Kalamazoo College
Career plans: Lawyer
Parents: Alison Ryan and Christian Elbert
Achievements: Graduating Top 10; Optimist Award; Principal’s List (4.0-plus); Mackinac Island Honor Scout; DECA State competitor
Jade Smith
John Glenn High School
Hometown: Bay City
College: Saginaw Valley State University
Career plans: Physical therapist
Parents: Nancy and Gary Smith
Achievements: President’s List; Delta College recipient; Varsity Cross Country athlete; National Honor Society
Brandt Stewart II
High school: University High School Academy
Hometown: Southfield
College: Morehouse College
Career plans: Supply chain manager
Parent: Brittani Evans
Achievements: Magna Cum Laude; National Honor Society member; Midnight Golf Program alumnus; Wolverine Pathways alumnus; summer internship at Toyota
Andre Thurmond-Tindle
Cass Technical High School
Hometown: Detroit
College: Alabama A&M University
Career plans: Veterinarian
Parent: Joy Thurmond
Achievements: Maintained a 3.0-plus GPA throughout high school; Midnight Golf Program alumn (Mentorship and Life Skills Program); National Honor Society; honor roll every year of high school; Midnight Golf Scholarships
Maegan Williams
University High School Academy
Hometown: Detroit
College: Brown University
Career plans: Public Health Administrator, OBGYN
Parent: Pamela Williams
Achievements: National Honor Society; vice president of National Society of Black Engineers JR; class valedictorian; 2024 Ms. AKATEEN
Meghan Williams
Cass Technical High School
Hometown: Detroit
College: North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Career plans: Computer engineer
Parent: Soni Williams
Achievements: National Honor Society (two years); Cass Tech Harp and Vocal (Soprano 1); Teen Hype (public relations manager)
Symphony Zeigler
Cass Technical High School
Hometown: Detroit
College: Jackson
Career plans: Radiology
Parent: Melaniese Nicholson
Achievements: President of Top Teens, Miss; Top Teen of America Detroit; NCNW Youth Section Secretary; NAACP member; Speakers Choice Award
The Rosa Parks Scholarship Foundation also is giving out honorable mention awards to other Michigan students who were awarded other major major scholarships, making them ineligible for the Rosa Parks award.
Kaleb Hill, Detroit Edison Public School Academy
Stephanie Rios, Cass Technical High School
CarRyn Gilbert, Cass Technical High School
Ireland Bradley, Detroit School of Arts
Eden Gray, Alpena High School
Kelvin Slaughter, University Prep Art & Design
BJ Underwood, Pershing High School
Jim Rosenfeld, foundation president; shareholder, Butzel
Walter Middlebrook, foundation vice president; foster professor of practice, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, The 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 Miller, foundation assistant treasurer; vice president of U.S. programs at the Center for Reproductive Rights; Rosa Parks Foundation scholar, 1988
Jon Goldstein, director of development, Wayne State University Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Delora Hall Tyler, foundation past president; president, First Media Group Inc.
Luther Keith, executive director, ARISE Detroit!; former senior editor, The Detroit News
Denise Williams Mallett, Ed.D, partner at Marygrove Consulting Firm and adjunct professor at Wayne State University's College of Education
Danielle McGuire, Ph.D.: civil rights historian and award-winning author
Isaiah McKinnon, Ph.D., retired chief of police and associate professor at University Detroit Mercy and deputy mayor 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, executive director of education, Michigan Underground Railroad Exploratory Collective; former counseling director, Detroit Public Schools Community District
Erica Thedford, great niece of Mrs. Parks; scopist
Robert E. Thomas, J.D., Regulatory & Privacy, Ford Motor Co.
Kim Trent, foundation past president; deputy director-prosperity for the State of Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity; Rosa Parks Scholarship Foundation scholar
Michigan high school students are encouraged to apply for a one-time $2,500 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.
