Six local high school students have been recognized for essays submitted as part of EVERFI’s Black History Month Challenge, of which Cape Cod 5 was a regional partner.
Kylie Morris of Buzzards Bay was chosen as one of the top three national winners and will receive a $4,000 scholarship.
Cape Cod 5 will grant $500 educational stipends to five local students who were named “honorable mentions” in the Challenge: Anna Benett of East Falmouth, Molly Gramm of South Dennis, Samantha Malfy of East Falmouth, Bronwyn Morris of East Falmouth and Kayleigh Flaherty Washington of Nantucket.
Participants submitted a capstone essay sharing how they plan to continue conversations about diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the community.
The Challenge was promoted locally by Cape Cod 5 through its partnership with EVERFI, a nonprofit which offers courses in financial literacy to students by partnering with businesses.
The Challenge encouraged young people to draw connections from past and present events to understand the world around them and spark enduring conversations about race and allyship. During the month of February, more than 14,000 students participated in the BHM Challenge nationally, completing four digital lessons focused on understanding the Black experience. A total of 978 of those students from across the country submitted a capstone essay from which the winners were selected.
“Cape Cod 5 commends all the local students who participated in the EVERFI Black History Month Challenge and congratulates those who were recognized with awards. We are proud to stand with these future leaders in their commitment to diversity, equity & inclusion initiatives in our community,” said Dorothy A. Savarese, chair and CEO of Cape Cod 5. “Amplifying Black history as American history is one part of the bank’s long-standing commitment to creating an equitable, inclusive culture that celebrates all types of diversity throughout our organization and the communities we serve.”
