Students Honored at May 24th Awards Ceremony

Awards on table

Jazz88 and the North High Radio class presented the annual Student Awards Ceremony Thursday night, May 24th at the Davis Center, Minneapolis Public Schools’ headquarters. The event honored achievement and excellence in radio broadcasting among high school students participating in this long-running curriculum.

Lonnie McQuirter speaking at Student Awards
Lonnie McQuirter

Students, families and staff enjoyed a delicious sandwich buffet from Barbette.

The keynote speaker was North High alum and businessman Lonnie McQuirter. Lonnie is the director of operations of the popular South Minneapolis gas and convenience store, 36Lyn Refuel Station. Lonnie’s business is not a cookie-cutter, everyday convenience store. It’s become a hub for the community to find organic food items and some gourmet items not normally found at a gas station. Lonnie and his staff often greet customers by name, and provide service that patrons brag about.

In his inspiring speech Lonnie talked about important mentors in his life, including his father, coaches and teachers at North High. He had attended North for the Summa Tech program, a technology based curriculum that led him to want to be an architect. But life led him to becoming a businessman, and beyond owning 36Lyn, Lonnie is also Chairman of the Minnesota Retailers Association.

Radio class teacher Paul Kraimer presented the following awards:

Azhae'la Hanson
Azhae’la Hanson

Outstanding Freshman: Maliah Burns
Outstanding Junior (tie): Adryauna Crawford-Townsend and Kehyan Porter
Rhett Olson Engineering Award: Brandon Tucker
Broadcaster of the Year: Azhae’la Hanson
Arthur Colberg Scholarship: Azhae’la Hanson

Azhae’la has been accepted at Xavier University in Louisiana, and received $3,500 in scholarship dollars that will go directly to the school.
In her essay she talked about becoming “a successful agent of change and a positive role model for the African American girls” in her community. She also talked about how KBEM has influenced her life:

“I have built my connections and potentially a lifelong career through the traits and skills that I have acquired from Jazz88 and it’s all thanks to picking up that mic!”

We at Jazz88 are sure that whatever Azhae’la sets out to do, she will do it!


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