The Madison Metropolitan Chapter of The Links, Incorporated will host its annual African-American Student Recognition Program on Sunday, May 6, in the Mitby Gym of Madison College, 1701 Wright Street on Madison’s east side.
The Madison Metropolitan Chapter of The Links, Incorporated (The Links) is a civic group that has existed in Madison since 1985. The Student Recognition Program is one of the signature events for over 20 years, honoring outstanding students and parent volunteers in the greater Madison school district attendance area. Through the program, elementary, middle and high school students are recognized for academic achievement and good citizenship, among other things.
“Our partnership with the Madison Metropolitan School District and a host of other partners in recognizing student talent in our community has proven beneficial,” says Julia Holman, president of the Madison Links, in a statement. “The beauty of this event is that we are able to instill pride in each of these students and remind them that they have cheerleaders in this community who believe they have bright futures ahead.”
The Madison Metropolitan Links is a chapter of the larger, national The Links, Incorporated founded in 1946, which is one of the oldest and largest of predominately African-American, not-for-profit, service organizations in the nation. The membership consists of more than 15,000 professional women of color in 283 chapters located in 41 states, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.
The Student Recognition Program has recognized over 800 students annually and awarded more than $160,000 in scholarships, solidifying it as one of the most highly regarded and anticipated partnerships recognizing student achievement in the area.
“The program is an opportunity to counter some of the perceptions that our students are not performing -it allows us to highlight the many successes of individual students, along with the parent volunteers that serve as critical liaisons or advocates for students,” says Camille Carter, chair of the Services to Youth Facet Committee, which is charged with planning the celebration.
The program will recognize elementary school students beginning at 1:30 p.m. The afternoon program for middle and high school students will begin at 3:15 p.m. Dr. Jack E. Daniels, III, President of Madison College and Dr. Jennifer Cheatham, Superintendent of the Madison Metropolitan School District, will both be on hand for part of the programming to congratulate and encouraging award recipients.
