For Anaka Armstrong, the name Rosa Parks is synonymous with resilience.
“I feel like she’s symbolic of resilience and hard work paying off,” the 18-year-old from Caledonia said. “Her struggle is inspiring.”
So Armstrong was excited after learning she won a scholarship for college from the Rosa Parks Scholarship Foundation.
“I think the scholarship shows that hard work eventually pays off in the long run,” she said.
Armstrong added it was even more special for her family because the scholarship is coming from Detroit, where her father grew up.
“Knowing that all my aunts, uncles and cousins are able to celebrate with me really excited me,” she said. “It just made it all the more meaningful for me.”
Armstrong said her parents were also ecstatic when she told them she got the scholarship.
“My mom jumped up and down,” she said. “You can just imagine how excited they were.”
Armstrong, who graduated from East Kentwood High School in Kentwood, said she plans to use the scholarship to help pay for her studies at Alabama State University. She starts classes in the fall and hopes to become an occupational therapist.
She said every little bit of money she gets toward college is a big help.
Established in 1980 by The Detroit News and the Detroit public school system, the Rosa Parks Scholarship Foundation awards seniors who share the values of the civil rights activist. She sparked the Montgomery bus boycott of 1955 and spent her final years in Detroit.
The nonprofit awards a one-time $2,500 scholarship to Michigan high school seniors who embrace Parks’ commitment to social justice and community service.
Scholarships are to be applied for tuition, books, and fees for the first year of college, not for other expenses. The scholarship prioritizes need-based applicants, but all Michigan seniors are eligible to apply.
Scholarship winners are also eligible to apply for two paid summer internships at The Detroit News, where they learn about news gathering, taking photographs as well as print and digital news production.
More than 1,300 high-achieving Michigan high school seniors from across the state have received more than $2.5 million in scholarships from the foundation.
James Rosenfeld, the foundation’s president, said the nonprofit has awarded 33 scholarships this year, and it received more than 230 applicants.
He said awards like the ones provided by the foundation are increasingly important for students as it grows more difficult to find scholarships.
Rosenfeld, an attorney with Detroit law firm Butzel Long, said the foundation this year will host its 45th annual Rosa Parks Scholarship awards luncheon to honor the scholarship recipients.
He said the nonprofit will present its first annual scholarship in memory of Luther Keith, a trailblazing Detroit journalist, former Detroit News editor, community leader and musician. Keith, who died in March, is an honorary member of the Rosa Parks Scholarship Foundation’s board.
Rosenfeld said the foundation will also honor Karla McKanders, director of the Thurgood Marshall Institute, the New York-based organization that works toward multiracial democracy.
In addition, BrassCraft Manufacturing Company will announce it is sponsoring four student scholarships this year, Rosenfeld said.
Officials will also provide details about the foundation’s 45th anniversary gala, which is scheduled to be held Nov. 1 at The Henry Ford. Rosenfeld said it will be held in front of the bus on which Rosa Parks made history.
Here are the graduates:
East Kentwood High School
Hometown: Caledonia
College: Alabama State University
Career plans: Occupational therapist
Parents: Aliya and Emmanuel Armstrong III
Achievements: National Honor Society; SOAR Scholar, Thurgood Marshall College Fund; Miss Fashionetta 2024-25, Theta Chi Omega chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.; secretary, Black Student Union; student ambassador, Kent Career Tech Center
Southgate Anderson High School
Hometown: Southgate
College: Grand Valley State University
Career plans: Nurse
Parent: LaTricia Howard
Achievements: Certified Clinical Medical Assistant; completed Health Science Program, Career Technical Education program; National Honor Society; Technical National Honor Society; Class Congress; Link Crew Leader
Saginaw United High School
Hometown: Saginaw
College: West Virginia University
Career plans: Chiropractic
Parents: Arshen and Lionel Baldwin Sr.
Achievements: State champion, MHSAA Division 1 Wrestling; qualifier, USA Wrestling World Team Trial (Geneva, Ohio); Valedictorian; Wrestler of the Year, Saginaw Valley League; Most Valuable Wrestler, Saginaw County
West Bloomfield High School
Hometown: West Bloomfield
College: Michigan State University
Career plans: Doctor
Parents: Kimberly and Michael Bower
Achievements: Captain, varsity softball; National Honor Society; board member and youth recognition award, Health Occupation Students of America
Voyageur College Preparatory High School
Hometown: Detroit
College: Northern Michigan University
Career plans: Business administration
Parents: Jessica and Ronald Lindsay Sr.
Achievements: Vice president, National Honor Society
Union City High School
Hometown: Union City
College: AMDA College of Performing Arts, Los Angeles
Career plans: Professional dancer
Parent: Tasha Hale
Achievements: Salutatorian; National Honor Society; editor, Yearbook; competitive dance
Brighton High School
Hometown: Brighton
College: University of Michigan
Career plans: Film production
Parent: Janet Dunn
Achievements: Student of the Week, Livingston County Schools; chair, food drive committee, National Honor Society; stage manager, school plays; scenic coordinator, school musicals
Rockford High School
Hometown: Rockford
College: Taylor University
Career plans: Missionary work
Parents: Danae and Adam Gee
Achievements: MVP, Rockford varsity tennis; 2024 All-State team, girls varsity tennis; 2024 Academic All-conference team, volleyball; four-year principal honor roll
Linden High School
Hometown: Linden
College: Michigan State University
Career plans: Sonographer
Parents: Stacy and Andy Daul, Jason Goss
Achievements: Top 40 Under 40, Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce; volunteer champion, Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness; named American Everyday Hero, USA Today (2017); Young Hero Award (2018), The King Center (Atlanta); H. William Reising achievement award, Shelter of Flint
Kingsley High School
Hometown: Kingsley
College: University of North Florida
Career plans: Nursing
Parents: Sue and Mike Graham
Achievements: National Honor Society; National Technical Honor Society; varsity soccer, All-Conference and All-District (2024 and 2025)
Cass Technical High School
Hometown: Southfield
College: Stanford University
Career plans: Neurosurgeon
Parent: Hattie Jennings
Achievements: National Honor Society; president, Red Cross Club; vice president, Doctors of Tomorrow; scholar, College Board Advanced Placement
Renaissance High School
Hometown: Detroit
College: Elizabeth City State University
Career plans: Aviation Emergency Management
Parent: Rhonda Johnson
Achievements: Class sergeant-at-arms; captain, varsity volleyball; Disney Dreamers Academy (2024); Spirit of Detroit Award for Community Service (2021)
Renaissance High School
Hometown: Detroit
College: Hampton University
Career plans: Pediatric nurse practitioner
Parents: Tericka and Michael Lipscomb
Achievements: Captain, girls varsity swim team; president, Delta G.E.M.S, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.; Spirit of Detroit Award for High School Achievement (2025); Awardee for Entrepreneurship, Rhonda Walker’s Detroit Girls Who Rock; Level 5, Certified Nursing Assistant
Cass Technical High School
Hometown: Detroit
College: Michigan State University
Career plans: Neurosurgeon
Parents: Carla and Marcel Markham
Achievements: President, Doctors of Tomorrow; International Baccalaureate (IB) student; honor roll; Sewa LEAD Detroit; Delta Gems; TRIO program (Wayne State University)
Tecumseh High School
Hometown: Tecumseh
College: University of Michigan
Career plans: Lawyer
Parent: Rasha Jabar
Achievements: Summa cum laude; student representative, Tecumseh Public School committee; president, National Honor Society; Key Club; Unified Sports; Fellowship Christian Athletes; Link Crew
University of Detroit Jesuit High
Hometown: Canton
College: Morehouse College
Career plans: Computer science
Parents: Shanta and Antwan McMullan Sr.
Achievements: Magna cum laude; teen president, Jack and Jill of America Inc. (Ypsilanti); president, Kappa League (Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti/Inkster); Midnight Golf Program; varsity football; scholar athlete, varsity track & field
Robichaud High School
Hometown: Detroit
College: Howard University
Career plans: Diplomat
Parents: Tiffany and Anzley Morrell
Achievements: Valedictorian; student member, Westwood Community School District board; class president; student body president; president, National Honor Society; president, Interact Club (Rotary); math and science student, Upward Bound – Trio; youth tutor; volunteer leader
Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School
Hometown: Detroit
College: Grand Valley State University
Career plans: Neuroscience or medical sales
Parent: Sharon Cherry
Achievements: Class treasurer; AKATeens of Detroit leadership program; National Honor Society; member, Women of Tomorrow
Saginaw United High School
Hometown: Saginaw
College: Michigan State University
Career plans: Broadcast journalist, TV anchor
Parents: Denita Dorsey and Nathaniel Morris III
Achievements: Recipient, Youth Volunteer of the Year, Michigan Governor’s Service Award (2023); participant, Disney Dreamers Academy; two-time winner, NAACP National ACT-SO Bronze Medal for Entrepreneurship; Rising Business award, Michigan Banner
Stephenson High School
Hometown: Stephenson
College: Northern Michigan University
Career plans: Nursing
Parents: Erica Kuehnau and Bryan Motto
Achievements: Captain, varsity girls softball; Student Council; gymnast
Mercy High School
Hometown: Detroit
College: University of Michigan
Career plans: Dermatologist
Parents: Jasmine Roberson and Arinze Nwamba
Achievements: Founder and president, Nigerian Student Union, research intern, D-RISE; scholar, Wolverine Pathways, University of Michigan; member, varsity swim and dive team; debutante, The Cotillion Society of Detroit Educational Foundation; research intern, Biomedical Career Advancement Pipeline; Black Awareness Society for Education; Silas Norman Medical Scholars; Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program
Wayne Memorial High School
Hometown: Detroit
College: Ferris State University
Career plans: Architect
Parents: Anyesa and Damon Perry
Achievements: National Tech Honor Society; National Honor Society; attendee, Skills USA Leadership
Saginaw United High School
Hometown: Saginaw
College: Central State University
Career plans: Lawyer
Parent: Ronda Hendricks
Achievements: Winner, MLK Oratorical Competition (2025), Saginaw Valley State University; District 1 champion (2024), DECA; president, Guide Right, Saginaw alumni chapter, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.; Stand-Up Student of the Year (2021, 2025); cofounder, Full Figure Sensation
Mumford High School
Hometown: Detroit
College: Western Michigan University
Career plans: Anesthesiologist
Parents: Anthony Porter
Achievements: Named Recy Taylor scholar; graduating high school and pursuing collegiate studies
Coopersville High School
Hometown: Conklin
College: University of Michigan
Career plans: Biomedical engineer
Parents: Lisa and Mike Rasch
Achievements: National Honor Society; president, STEM Club; AP Scholar with honor; All-Conference and All-District, varsity softball
Mumford High School
Hometown: Detroit
College: Oakland University
Career Plans: Nurse anesthetist
Parents: Nantenin and Mohamed Sangare
Achievements: National Honor Society; intern, Henry Ford Hospital; certified phlebotomist; in-training, medical assistant
International Academy of Macomb
Hometown: Clinton Township
College: Oakland University
Career plans: Business Major
Parents: Angi and Scott Simon
Achievements: Eagle Scout; National Honor Society; Key Club
Cass Technical High School
Hometown: Detroit
College: University of Michigan
Career plans: Journalist
Parents: Crystal and Roderick Thomas
Achievements: National Honor Society; varsity swim team; Detroit Public Schools District Newspaper; art contributor, Michigan governor’s traveling office exhibit
Cass Technical High School
Hometown: Detroit
College: Howard University
Career plans: Politics and law
Parents: Cortnie Harris and Jesse West
Achievements: Student representative, Detroit Public Schools Community District; vice president-finance, DECA; founder, Cass Tech Focus Group; honor roll; Midnight Golf Program; ACLU National Advocacy Institute (Summer 2024), Washington, D.C.; participant, Girls Making Change with state Sen. Stephanie Chang
The School at Marygrove
Hometown: Detroit
College: Oakland University
Career plans: Industrial engineering
Parent: Latoya Jones
Achievements: Detroit Youth Choir; National Honor Society; Detroit Kappa League, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.
Technical High School
Hometown: Detroit
College: Wayne State University – Journalism Institute for Media Diversity
Career Plans: Broadcast journalist, news anchor
Parent: Brittney Day
Achievements: Gwen Ifill fellow, PBS NewsHour/ Detroit Public TV (2024); apprentice, Detroit Free Press; president of press corps, YMCA Michigan Youth in Government (2023-2024); founder/host, “MyVote, MyVoice” podcast; fundraiser, HopeBox Initiative
Ferndale University High School
Hometown: Detroit
College: Grand Valley State University
Career plans: Mechanical engineering
Parents: LaTresa Eason-Worthy and James Worthy Jr.
Achievements: Cum laude; secretary, National Honor Society; National Society of High School Scholars; captain, varsity bowling; participant, Midnight Golf Program; Esquire MENtor Program, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. (Detroit); youth councilmember, Detroit Pistons
Columbia Central High School
Hometown: Brooklyn
College: University of Michigan
Career plans: Financial analyst
Parent: Ji Hua Chen
Achievements: President, Student Senate; dean’s list, Jackson College; captain, varsity girls tennis; chair, Columbia Central Leadership Forum Day; National First-Generation Recognition Program (College Board)
The Rosa Parks Scholarship Foundation would also like to recognize the following students. Because of their stellar academic performance, they have been awarded other major scholarships that have made them ineligible for a 2025 scholarship. These students are excellent examples of what a Rosa Parks Scholar should be, and we want to acknowledge them.
Madeline Boles, Northpointe Christian High School, Grand Rapids
Kalel Garrett, Homeschool, Detroit
Charisma Holly, Detroit Edison Public School Academy High School
Jahnayia Lipscomb, Frank Cody High School, Detroit
Myliyah Todd, Kearsley High School, Flint
Gabrielle Whetstone-Johnson, Tawas Area High School, Whittemore
Ava White, Renaissance High School, Detroit
James Rosenfeld, foundation president; shareholder, Butzel
Walter Middlebrook, foundation vice president; Foster Professor of Practice, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, The Pennsylvania State University; former assistant managing editor, The Detroit News
Marcia Hart, foundation secretary; retired, Detroit Media Partnership
Terri Barnett Coleman, foundation treasurer; retired, North America Product Development, General Motors Corp.
Dorothy Cocroft, foundation assistant secretary; retired, labor relations, General Motors Corp.
Erica Thedford, foundation recording secretary; great niece of Mrs. Parks, Scopist
Benita Miller, foundation assistant treasurer; Vice President of US Programs at the Center for Reproductive Rights, Rosa Parks Foundation Scholar
Jon Goldstein, senior director of development, MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine
Delora Hall Tyler, foundation past president; president, First Media Group, Inc.
Danielle McGuire, Ph.D.; civil rights historian and award-winning author
Isaiah McKinnon, Ph.D., retired associate professor, University Detroit Mercy, and former chief of police and deputy mayor, City of Detroit
Gary Miles, editor and publisher, The Detroit News
Alicia Nails, director, Journalism Institute for Media Diversity, Wayne State University
Sherida D. DuBose Parsons, medical director — Molina Healthcare of Michigan
Robin Schwartz, founder and CEO of Robin Schwartz PR and former Fox 2 News anchor/reporter
Barbara K. Smith, Ph.D., cofounder and executive director of the Michigan Underground Railroad Exploratory Collective; retired Counseling Director, Detroit school district
Robert E. Thomas, J.D., Regulatory & Privacy, Ford Motor Co.,
Kim Trent, foundation immediate past president; deputy director-prosperity for the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity; Rosa Parks Scholarship Foundation scholar
Michigan high school students are encouraged to apply for a one-time $2,500 scholarship named in honor of civil rights icon Rosa Parks. Applications are typically due on March 1 each school year. For more information, see rosaparksscholarship.org.
