2025 Honorees
Dr. Janice Walker
Lifetime Achievement in STEM
This year’s honoree for the Lifetime Achievement in STEM Award in Janice Walker, PhD. Dr. Walker is a Professor Emeritus at Xavier University. Dr. Walker previously served as the Vice President for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion as well as Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences.
Dr. Kamaria Catalan
Applied Scientist of the Year
This year’s Applied Scientist of the Year is Dr. Kamaria Catalan. Dr. Catalan is the proud owner and visionary behind Rover The Rhine Veterinary Hospital. Known affectionately as the Boss Lady & Head Honcho, Dr. Catalan is dedicated to fostering strong, collaborative relationships with pet parents.
Dr. Monica Posey
Community Advocate of the Year
This year’s Community Advocate of the Year is Dr. Monica Posey. Dr. Posey has been President of Cincinnati State for 9 years, focusing on building relationships to achieve the college's mission and expanding employer partnerships to address the tri-state’s skills gap
Ladies of Leadership
Community Organization of the Year
This year’s Community Organization of the Year is Ladies of Leadership. Ladies of Leadership (LOL) is a Cincinnati-based nonprofit dedicated to empowering inner-cityyoung women through mentorship, leadership development, and confidence-building programs.
Triversity
Corporation of the Year
This year’s Corporation of the Year is Triversity. Triversity Construction was founded in 2005. The “Tri” in the company name was derived from the acknowledgement of the three owners at the time. The “versity” was a signal that diversity was an inciting idea behind forming the company.
Leslie Lyles
Educator of the Year
This year’s Educator of the Year is Leslie Lyles. Mrs. Lyles is a proud CPS alum. Her love for learning brought her full circle back to Bond Hill Academy where she serves as a STEM Teacher, Teacher-in-Charge, Team Leader, Technology Coordinator, STEM Club Advisor, and Mentor Teacher.
Tammala Brooks
Engineer of the Year
This year’s Engineer of hte Year is Tammala Jones. Mrs. Brooks serves as Senior Project Group Leader and Vice President at Fifth Third Bank, where she oversees construction management of the Retail Southeast Expansion Program, an initiative to open 200 banking centers within several years.
Kai Lewars
Entrepreneur of the Year
This year’s Engineer of the Year is Kai Lewars. Mr. Lewars is the Principal and Founder of Kaiker Development and Construction. Kaiker provides a full range of development, construction management, and general contracting services for urban redevelopment projects.
Dr. Guy-Lucien Whembolua
Faculty Member of the Year
This year’s Entrepreneur of the Year is Dr. Guy-Lucien Whembolua. . Dr. Whembolua is a Professor of Health Policy and Management in the Department of Africana Studies and in the College of Medicine. at UC.
Vincent Onoja
Graduate Student of the Year
This year’s Graduate Student of the Year is Vincent Onoja. Vincent is a PhD candidate in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Cincinnati. His research, investigates turbulent flow transport in complex nozzle geometries
Dr. Regina Kekessi
Healthcare Professional of the Year
This year’s Healthcare Professional of the Year is Dr. Regina Kekessi. With more than 20 years of clinical and practical experience in medicine, Dr. Whitfield Kekessi is board-certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Dr. Armika Collins
Rising Star of the Year
This year’s Healthcare Professional of the Year is Dr. Armika Collins. Dr. Collins is a native of Cincinnati, and completed her family medicine residency at the University of Cincinnati in 2024. Dr. Collins is very excited to start her new role as a faculty member at TriHealth's family medicine residency program.
Laurence Jones
Technologist of the Year
This year’s Technologist of the Year is Mr. Laurence Jones. Laurence Jones co-founded RiskVersity in 2015 and CyberSure in 2021. He brings 24 years’ experience in accounting, risk management, finance, and business operations.
Sosena Tefera
Wesleigh White Memorial Scholar
This year’s Wesleigh White Memorial Scholars is Sosean Tefera. Sosena is a Senior at Anderson High School. She is planning to purose economins and journalism in the Fall of 2026.
2024 Honorees
LifeTime Achievement in STEM - Dr. Karen Bankston
Applied Scientist of the Year - Mrs. Brianna Hargett
Community Advocate of the Year - Mr. Germaine Hunter
Community Organization of the Year - Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Medical Center
Corporation of the Year - Jostin Construction
Educator of the Year (K-6) - Mrs. Lacy Vasser-Crawford
Educator of the Year (7-12) - Mr. Keonte Alexander
Engineer of the Year - Mr. Sylvester Dupree
Entrepreneur of the Year - Mrs. LaTosha Ward
Faculty Member of the Year - Dr. LaShan Hendrix
Graduate Student of the Year - Ms. Abigail Dogbe
Healthcare Professional of the Year - Dr. Angelique Gloster-Waller
Rising Star of the Year - Ms. Taylor Scott
Technologist of the Year - Mr. Domon Frost
Wesleigh White Memorial Scholar - Miss Aamira Brooks
2023 Honorees
LifeTime Achievement in STEM - Dr. Janet Reid
Applied Scientist of the Year - Dr. Rukeyser Thompson
Community Advocate of the Year - Mrs. Candice Matthews-Brackeen
Community Organization of the Year - Learning through Art!
Corporation of the Year - Jacobs
Educator of the Year (K-6) - Mrs. Lacy Vasser
Educator of the Year (7-12) - Ms. Rebecca Dobbs
Engineer of the Year - Mr. Abbiw Jackson
Entrepreneur of the Year - Mrs. Chelsea CLark
Faculty Member of the Year - Dr. Norman Loney
Graduate Student of the Year - Ms. Lily Botsyoe
Healthcare Professional of the Year - Dr. Michael Thomas
Rising Star of the Year - Mrs. Ashley Taylor
Technologist of the Year - Ms. Jocelyn Whitfield
Wesleigh White Memorial Scholar - Miss K’Meria Wallace
2022 Honorees
LifeTime Achievement in STEM - Dr. C. Keith Melvin
Applied Scientist of the Year - Dr. Judson Haynes, III
Community Advocate of the Year - Mrs. Patricia Stewart-Adams
Community Organization of the Year - The Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio
Corporation of the Year - Turner
Educator of the Year (K-6) - Mrs. Deidre Simpson
Educator of the Year (7-12) - Dr. Jeffrey Johnson
Engineer of the Year -Mr. Pamela Williams-Dyle
Entrepreneur of the Year - Dr. Melvin Gravely
Faculty Member of the Year - Dr. Cedrick Kwuimy
Graduate Student of the Year - Mr. Evan Brooks
Healthcare Professional of the Year - Dr. Kent Robinson
Rising Star of the Year - Mrs. Danielle Williams
Technologist of the Year - Mr. Eku Williams
Wesleigh White Memorial Scholar - Miss Anya Brown
2021 Honorees
LifeTime Achievement in STEM - Dr. Cheryll Dunn
Applied Scientist of the Year - Mrs. Cathy Bailey
Community Advocate of the Year - Mrs. Deboah Allsop
Community Organization of the Year - NAACP-ACTSO
Corporation of the Year - GE
Educator of the Year (K-6) - Mrs. Carmen DeLoach
Educator of the Year (7-12) - Mr. Erick Allen
Engineer of the Year -Mr. Howard Elliott
Entrepreneur of the Year - Mr. Robert Richardson, Jr.
Faculty Member of the Year - Dr. James Mack
Graduate Student of the Year - Dr. Corinne Foley
Healthcare Professional of the Year - Dr. O’dell Owens
Rising Star of the Year - Mrs. Racquel Redwood
Technologist of the Year - Mrs. Josette Riep
Wesleigh White Memorial Scholar - Miss Kaylaa Betts
2020 Honorees
LifeTime Achievement in STEM - Dr. Alvin Crawford
Applied Scientist of the Year - Mr. Jesse Hipps, Sr.
Community Advocate of the Year - Rev. Dr. Jonathan Brown
Community Organization of the Year - Cincinnati Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority, Incorporated
Corporation of the Year - Messer
Educator of the Year (K-6) - Mr. Gregory Cannon
Educator of the Year (7-12) - Mrs. Caroline Robb
Engineer of the Year - Lisa Rowell
Entrepreneur of the Year - John Moore
Faculty Member of the Year - Dr. Mary Stroud
Graduate Student of the Year - Dr. Camille Sullivan
Healthcare Professional of the Year - Mrs. Felicia Beckham
Rising Star of the Year - Mr. Jimmy Stringer
Technologist of the Year - Mr. Darold Fletcher
Wesleigh White Memorial Scholar - Miss Cari’a Thacker
2019 Honorees
LifeTime Achievement in STEM - Mr. J. Phillip Holloman
Applied Scientist of the Year - Dr. Rolanda Wilkerson
Community Advocate of the Year - Rev. Damon Lynch, III
Community Organization of the Year - Queen City (OH) Chapter of the Links, Inc.
Corporation of the Year - Procter and Gamble
Educator of the Year (K-6) - Ms. Morgan Chapman
Educator of the Year (7-12) - Dr. Lameesa Muhammad
Engineer of the Year - Gloria Samuel
Entrepreneur of the Year - Renee Seward
Faculty Member of the Year - Dr. LaSharon Mosley
Graduate Student of the Year - Melvin Ikwubuo
Healthcare Professional of the Year - Dr. Christopher Lewis
Rising Star of the Year - Dr. DeVonna Gatlin
Technologist of the Year - Karen Lipscomb
Wesleigh White Memorial Scholar - Nan Yebuah