Senior Receives Cleveland BBB Integrity Scholarship

Racquel Armstrong `06 was recently honored as one of four "Students of Integrity" by the Greater Cleveland Better Business Bureau. The honorees were selected from a pool of forty-eight graduating seniors in Northeast Ohio. Armstrong was selected in recognition of her "high character through leadership, community service, personal integrity and academic history," and was awarded a $1000 college scholarship. Within the Hawken community, Armstrong has participated on the Speech and Debate team for four consecutive years, during which time she has been recognized for her skills in poetry interpretation; she also served as the speech captain in 2004-05. As a diversity advocate, she helped to re-establish the diversity committee as Diversity in Action 2005 and, as the organization`s president, co-developed the new mission statement and bylaws. She has also participated in the School senate, and as a varsity member of the track and field program. In the larger community, Armstrong serves as the regional vice president of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., for whom she has volunteered as an English and math tutor; she is also the vice president of the Black Achievers of Cleveland. Additionally, she has partaken in volunteer activities at the Applewood Center, City Mission, New Life Community, and the Affinity Missionary Baptist Church, and participates in poetry slam competitions. All nominees are required to submit a personal essay for review by a panel of judges. In her essay, Armstrong wrote "If I can influence at least one person to do one thing to better their community, they will hopefully do the same for someone else and a chain of empowerment will be created for people as well as for the community.