3 Mount Vernon Students Earn Scholarships At MLK Legacy Youth Awards

MOUNT VERNON, NY — The dreams of Martin Luther King Jr. have not yet been realized, but there are encouraging signs that a new generation is ready to carry the torch.

Three Mount Vernon City School District students received awards at the African American Men of Westchester’s Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Youth Awards Luncheon on Monday.

Rayanu Adam and Roymichael Brisport, both seniors at the Mount Vernon STEAM Academy, won the William L. Carter Perseverance Award, which includes a $2,000 scholarship. Brisport was also awarded a $2,500 Albertina Bloom Scholarship Grant. Mohamadou Alou, a senior at Mount Vernon High School, won the Social Action Award and a $2,000 scholarship. Fourteen total awards were given at the luncheon, including 10 $2,000 scholarships, and four $2,500 Albertina Bloom Scholarship Grants.

Rayanu Adam is the Vice President of his class at the Mount Vernon STEAM Academy, captain of the varsity track team, and serves as a student school board trustee for the school district. He also serves the community by sorting and giving away food to those in need with the LIFE Progressive Services Group and tutoring Hispanic children in the Bronx with the Mexican American Students’ Alliance (MASA) NY Program.

"It’s just being the change that you want to see," Adam said. "It doesn't have to be humongous. It can be just in your community: tutoring, handing out food. Starting from the bottom, and brick by brick it builds up. That to me is fulfilling Dr. King’s vision."

As a student trustee on the school board, Adam advocated for better functioning shuttle buses for student-athletes, and he continues to represent students in the Board of Education. He says that he considers this some of the most important work that he has done to serve others. Adam is also a fellow with My Brother’s Keeper, allowing him to commit even more acts of service.

Roymichael Brisport also won the William L. Carter Perseverance Award. He has worked to improve the community in numerous ways, including interning at the Mount Vernon Neighborhood Health Center. Brisport is a volunteer for Sexual Assault and Family Education (SAFE) Guyana, and he helps coordinate food distribution to the homeless population in Linden, Guyana. He also sorts clothing and helps coordinate clothing pickups across Westchester and NYC.

Brisport serves as a member of NYS Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins' Youth Advisory Council. He is also a member of Westchester Alpha’s Suit-UP! Mentoring Program. Brisport commits himself to community service through all of these organizations, and he says that he wants to continue to help people. He plans to study biomedical engineering with a minor in prosthetics to give other people opportunities to live a fulfilled life.

"I feel like this award means that you’re supposed to continue to strive to be better, not only as a black man, but as a man for the rest of the community," said Brisport. "The way I can continue to emulate Dr. King’s dream is by uniting the community as a whole. It can be small things like taking out the trash for your neighbor or doing community service."

Mohamadou Alou founded the Knight’s Boutique at MVHS. He works with teachers and other students to receive clothing donations from the school and community. They donate these clothes for free in a room at MVHS, where students can come in and "shop" for their clothing. The boutique has everyday clothing as well as suits, prom dresses, shoes and other formal-wear. Through this, Alou says he can help people with fewer opportunities get nice clothes and feel dignified and stylish. Alou was born in Niger and immigrated to New York in 2020. Despite his short time in the U.S., he has worked hard to pioneer new ideas to help his school community.

"First of all, Dr. Martin Luther King and I have something in common: helping community," Alou said. "I like helping people in need. At first I was nervous (about the Knight’s Boutique) to be honest, but as soon as it started going and we started getting news I was like wow. I did not know it was going to be like that. To see kids shopping and getting what they like, that makes me feel good."

With these scholarships, the three students will have additional support for books, housing and more when they begin college this fall.