2026 Honorees
Mr. Stephen Hightower
Lifetime Achievement in STEM
This year’s honoree for the Lifetime Achievement in STEM Award is Stephen Hightower. Stephen is a pioneering energy entrepreneur, corporate leader, and advocate whose career has helped expand innovation, representation, and opportunity throughout the American energy sector.
Dr. Kemal Catalan
Applied Scientist of the Year
This year’s Applied Scientist of the Year is Dr. Kemal Catalan. Dr. Kemal V. Catalan is a chemist who became a lawyer without ever leaving the bench behind. he spent his first career at The Procter & Gamble Company, leading research and development teams across several business units.
Mr. Tommie Lewis
Community Advocate of the Year
This year’s Community Advocate of the Year is Tommie Lewis. He is the Founder, President and CEO of Make It Plain Consulting, LLC. He and his firm offer three decades of domestic and global experience providing training solutions to educational institutions, corporations, and nonprofit organizations.
Breakthrough Cincinnati
Community Organization of the Year
This year’s Community Organization of the Year is Breakthrough Cincinnati. The mission of Breakthrough Cincinnati is to prepare underrepresented students for success in college while inspiring the next generation of educators.
ADM
Corporation of the Year
This year’s Corporation of the Year is ADM. TADM unlocks the power of nature to enrich the quality of life. Serving as an essential global agricultural supply chain manager and processor, ADM provides food security by connecting local needs with global capabilities.
Ashanti Riddle
Educator of the Year
This year’s Educator of the Year is Ashanti Riddle. Ashanti Riddle is a dedicated educator whose work brings together academic excellence, faith, and a deep commitment to helping young people recognize their potential. She specializes in Math and Christian Studies.
Marchoe Northern
Engineer of the Year
This year’s Engineer of the Year is Marchoe Northern. Marchoe Northern is President of Procter & Gamble’s Fabric Care, North America business, which is the company's largest category and country combination. In her current role, she is responsible for several of the company’s most iconic brands.
Sylvia Brownlee
Entrepreneur of the Year
This year’s Entrepreneur of the Year is Sylvia Brownlee. Skin by Brownlee & Co. is a skincare clinic based in Cincinnati, Ohio, offering a comprehensive range of products specialized in the prevention and treatment of acne and hyperpigmentation that has been prmoting healthy skincare since 2015.
Dr. Briana Simms
Faculty Member of the Year
Dr. Briana Simms is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Cincinnati. She is an alumna of The Xavier University of Louisiana (B.S. Biochemistry) and the University of Mississippi (Ph.D. Chemistry).
Dr. Mark Onyango
Graduate Student of the Year
This year’s Graduate Student of the Year is VDr. Mark Onyango. He is a STEM educator passionate about inclusive classroom instruction and engineering workforce development among students from underserved backgrounds
Dr. Monica Newby
Healthcare Professional of the Year
This year’s Healthcare Professional of the Year is Dr. Monica Newby. Dr. Monica Newby has been providing outstanding orthodontic care to patients in Cincinnati and Dayton since 1996.
Dante Jones II
Rising Star of the Year
This year’s Healthcare Professional of the Year is Dante Jones. Dante Jones II is a project manager whose work reflects the technical range, accountability, and community-minded leadership of a rising STEM professional.
Irvin Carney
Technologist of the Year
This year’s Technologist of the Year is Mr. Irvin Carney.
Sosena Tefera
Wesleigh White Memorial Scholar
Join us on September 19 to learn who will receve this yea’s Wesleigh White Memorial Scbolarship.
2025 Honorees
LifeTime Achievement in STEM - Dr. Janice Walker
Applied Scientist of the Year - Dr. Kamaria Catlan
Community Advocate of the Year - Dr. Monica Posey
Community Organization of the Year - Ladies of Leadershpi
Corporation of the Year - Triversity
Educator of the Year (K-6) - Mrs. Leslie Lyles
Engineer of the Year - Mrs. Tammala Brooks
Entrepreneur of the Year - Mr. Kai Lewars
Faculty Member of the Year - Dr. Guy Lucien-Whembolua
Graduate Student of the Year - Mr. Vincent Onoja
Healthcare Professional of the Year - Dr. Regina Kekessi
Rising Star of the Year - Dr. Armika Collins
Technologist of the Year - Mr. Laurence Jones
Wesleigh White Memorial Scholar - Miss Sosena Tefera
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