Seventeen Jamesville-DeWitt High School seniors will attend the Class of 2025 Commencement with a meaningful colorful stole. The high school’s annual Kente Cloth Ceremony was held on Saturday, May 31.
The ceremony included a special message from UMOJA/Kente Club Advisor Sabrina Scott and Keynote Speaker Julissa Bazile (Class of 2019). DaVaya Hunter (Class of 2021) also helped with the Donning of the Kente Stoles.
A Kente stole is worn to recognize the academic and cultural achievements of graduating Black, African-American and African students and displays the colorful, intricately woven patterns of the traditional West African Kente cloth. It is traditionally worn draped over the shoulders during ceremonies to represent an accomplishment, graduation or other rite of passage. Adapted from Ghana tradition, this garment was once only worn by royalty.
The colors in the Kente cloth each hold symbolism:
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- Gold: Status/Serenity
- Yellow: Fertility
- Green: Renewal
- Red: Passion
- Black: Union with ancestors/Spiritual Awareness
To earn a Kente stole, J-D students must meet the following requirements:
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- Perform 20 hours of community service.
- Attend at least two guest speaker presentations that are part of the Kente Club’s Sankofa Speaker Series, which includes prominent community leaders.
- Create a personal display to be shown during the Kente ceremony highlighting their journey to graduation.
The Jamesville-DeWitt High School UMOJA/Kente Club is a long-standing right of passage program for J-D seniors. It endeavors to build unity among African-American students, others from culturally diverse backgrounds and the larger school community. Programming is designed with the intention of increasing respect for self and others and developing an understanding and appreciation for multiculturalism.
Class of 2025 Kente Club Honorees
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- Abenezer Berhane, University of Albany
- Ella Annan, St. John Fisher University
- Emile Antoine, Ithaca College
- Bernicia Appiah, Syracuse University
- Harman Butalia, University of Toronto
- Komani Butler, Workforce
- Stephanie Cervantes, St. Lawrence University
- Jackson Cummings, Le Moyne College
- Tobi Gil-Taylor, Le Moyne College
- A’mariyah McClinton, University Of Buffalo
- Jenna Quinn, St. John Fisher University
- Samaria Ricks, University of Albany
- Jeada Robinson, Keuka College
- Evangeline Rodriguez, North Carolina State University
- Malik Watson, Le Moyne College
- Marsitah Williams, Le Moyne College
- Terrell Willis, Syracuse University
Congratulations!