New Mann Scholars talked about their plans for high school and graduating Mann Scholars talked about their academic dreams in higher education on the night of June 16 at the Tenney Park Pavilion on Madison’s near east side as the community came out to support young scholars at the annual Mann Scholars Celebration.
Mark Richardson, the Mann board of directors co-chair, gave the welcome at the event.
“It’s graduation time. Our seniors are heading off to tackle the world. We’ve got new scholars that are coming into the program and we want to help them succeed. So on many fronts, it’s been about transition,” Richardson told the crowd. “And even for the program itself, there is transition. Last year, after over 20 years, [former Mann Scholars Program Coordinator] Amy Wallace stepped down and Pahoua [Thao, Mann Program Assistant,] as well, making room for [current Mann Scholars Program Coordinator] Maia [Pearson] to come in and add a new voice and a new vibe to the program. And it’s all about transition and it’s been all good.”
Every spring, the Mann Educational Opportunity Fund hosts a celebration for the graduating scholars where they also introduce new Mann Scholars to the community. Pearson, who started her position last December, has been supporting the Mann Scholar students all year in their educational endeavors and more. The current vice president of the board of directors for the Madison Metropolitan School District remembered the support she got herself growing up.
“Growing up on the south side, you had all these different people from all different types of walks of life. And the most important piece was that we were a community where you had all the adults who were instrumental in the youths’ lives,” she remembered. “And then our youth became the adults. So we have people who work for the YWCA, who work for Urban League, we have people everywhere doing community work because that is the basis of how we are able to succeed. We don’t succeed alone. We succeed together.
“For me, it’s definitely about how can I give back to the community but also ensuring that we have the next leaders coming up,” Pearson adds. “So I hope that one day, maybe in like 5-10 years, some of those young folks in the room will become those folks that will also be reaching back and helping some of our young people to succeed.”
The Mann Educational Opportunity Fund was started more than 30 years ago by a small circle of family friends, along with Mann children — to honor their parents, Bernard and Kathlyn Mann, who were long-time Madison African American parents and strong advocates for high-quality and equitable educational opportunities for all students enrolled in MMSD.
Becky and Bruce Mann, the youngest of the five Mann children, gave “Mann Family Reflections” at the event.
“As children of Bernie and Kathy, I proudly say our childhood was blessed. We were mentored by them in many ways we didn’t even understand at the time,” Becky Mann told the crowd. “They were busy working their magic on us and we didn’t even realize it. Mom and dad were strong advocates for education equity, and they demonstrated this their entire lives. Comments like ‘leveling the playing field’ were not uncommon for us. They wanted to make sure their children, as well as other children of color, had fair educational opportunities.
“The conviction of my parents is present in every single student that is here today … that every student deserves an education that prepares them to fulfill their life goals, achieve a life of purpose and be contributing community members,” she added. “Thanks to the collective work of many, including board members, staff, donors and community, we are now celebrating you, Mann Scholars.”
The 2023 Mann Scholars graduates that were honored included:
• Anecia Washington of La Follette High School who will be attending UW-Madison this fall to study psychology
(Photo by David Dahmer)
• Haley Johnson of Vel Phillips Memorial High School who will be attending Madison College to study nursing
• Elliott Tuinstra of Madison East High School who will be attending Iowa Central Community College to study Kinesiology & Exercise Sciences
• Nicholas Sanders of Madison East High School who will be attending Madison College to study business administration
“First and foremost, I want to thank everyone who makes the Mann program possible — all of the board members, donors, everybody who puts their time into the Mann program,” Washington told the crowd. “Today, I’m here to say that with the Mann program, we are really a family and that’s what I’ve learned over the past four years. There are so many attributes in this program that create a lot of success for a lot of people including me.
“I like to give thanks to [Mann Scholars program coordinator] Maia [Pearson]. She really jumped in and helped me ground myself during my senior year,” Washington added. “It was super hectic, and she’s super busy, but she still found time to get to know me as a person and what it takes to help guide me through the rest of my senior year.”
Washington also thanked former Mann Scholars program coordinator Amy Wallace, who was working with her during her first three years of high school, and her mother.
“Last but not least, I want to thank my mom. She’s one of the strongest women I know and I’ll say that without hesitation at all. She raised me all 18 years by herself. And look at me now,” Washington said. “She does it all by herself and it really truly puzzles me how she does it and how she’s still continuously doing it every day. Not only did she raise me into a good person, but I’m at her side and I’ll be attending UW-Madison on a completely full ride.
“The minute I opened up my financial aid offer it was a huge sigh of relief,” she added. “I remember telling my mom, ‘We finally did it. After all this time and all this hard work, we did it.'”
Longtime Mann board member and Mann selection committee member Marilyn Ruffin presented the three new Mann Scholars who were chosen out of 11 top applicants from various Madison Metropolitan School District middle schools. All three will start high school in the fall. They include Jawaun Chester of Sennett Middle School, Marje Hill of Toki Middle School and Stephen Galinski of Sherman Middle School.
“I just want to thank God, my mother and my little brother and sister … everyone that has been part of this journey, especially my mother. She taught me how to treat people, how to treat a woman, how to treat others, and how to respect other people and how to do good in school,” Jawaun said. “This is all because I’m going to make it big and I’m going to make it to the top for you …. just for you. This is all for us all.”
