Racial Harmony award winners announced

The 2017 Racial Harmony awards will be presented to outstanding students at the group’s annual meeting at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26 at First United Presbyterian Church, 1303 Royal Heights Road in Belleville.

This celebration recognizes the achievements of local youth and the support of community leaders. The winners are area students who have demonstrated the qualities of peacemaking, goodwill, harmonious interactions and respect for all people.

Established in the 1990s, Racial Harmony’s mission is to promote understanding, cooperation, and communication among all races and ethnic groups. The organization currently sponsors bi-monthly dinner meetings.

This year’s winners include:

Belleville: Willie Marchbanks, of Abraham Lincoln Elementary; Audree King, Belle Valley School; Brittanie Rice, Belleville East; Alayna Wells, Belleville West; Andre White, West Junior High; Brittany McDonald, Blessed Sacrament Elementary; Jordan Warner, Central Junior High; China Littlejohn, Douglas Elementary; Mia Vigna, Ellis Elementary; Ryan Loeffler, Emge Junior High; Marley Fuhrman, Franklin Elementary; Sage Reagan, Governor French Academy; Maliah Sparks, Harmony Intermediate Center; Xavier Holloman, Henry Raab Elementary; Marta Silva, Jefferson Elementary; Cecilia Murnane, Roosevelt Elementary; Angela Brown, Signal Hill; Cornell Eiland, Union Elementary; Victora Adewole, Westhaven Elementary.

Cahokia: Tyrese Mosley, of Estelle Sauget School of Choice; Jayda Jack, 8th Grade Academy.

Centreville: Demetrius Williams, of Lalumier Elementary.

East St. Louis: Artavius Williams Jr., of Dr. Katie Wright Elementary; Ayreise Jones, Lincoln Middle School; Niveah Lowery, Mason Clark Middle School.

Fairview Heights: Brynne Marie Walsh, of Illini Elementary.

Mascoutah: Alexandra Warfield, of Mascoutah High.

O’Fallon: Keelen Allen, of Amelia V. Carriel Junior High; Pricilla Jimenez, Central Elementary; Alexandra Mueller, Edward Fulton Junior High; Abraham Arevalo, Joseph Arthur Middle School; Emma Curtright, Laverna Evans Elementary; Alex Orr, O’Fallon Township High.

Shiloh: Jamil Tyree McKinney, of Shiloh Middle School.

Smithton: Holle Wagner, of Smithton School.

Swansea: Quenna Scott, of High Mount; Cavesse Vaughn, Wolf Branch Elementary; Zachary Hamilton Jr., Wolf Branch Middle School.

Washington Park: Alexus Williams, of James Avant Elementary.

For further information, call 618-234-0508.

This story was originally published February 3, 2017 at 10:30 AM with the headline "Racial Harmony award winners announced."