Semper Fidelis club awards three scholarships to MASD graduates

The annual “Salute to the Graduates” program was held at the Healthy Village Learning Institute on Freemont Street.

By NYA O’NEAL
McKeesport Community Newsroom

McKeesport’s Semper Fidelis club continued its legacy of supporting African-American students by providing three 2025 McKeesport Area High School graduates with scholarships toward their higher education goals.

Santana Kennedy and Treyvon Bowling each received the $1,000 Semper Fidelis club scholarship, and Saniya Rivers received the $1,200 Semper Fidelis Club Dr. Allen J. Singleton Scholarship.

The recipients and their families gathered for the annual “Salute to the Graduates” program, held at the Healthy Village Learning Institute on June 17.

During the scholarship ceremony, former Semper Fi president Jacqueline “Jackie” Blake reminded the honorees to “look back on this day, and know we’re not here only to celebrate for us, but we are here to celebrate you.”

Parliamentarian Fawn Walker provided a history of the Semper Fidelis, which means “Always Faithful” in Latin. The club was established in 1919 by McKeesport resident Anne Marshal, who had a vision to support Black women and children in their education and civic liberties. It is now the oldest club in Pennsylvania and contributes to many causes throughout the McKeesport and Pittsburgh region, which includes the scholarship program that has been supporting students pursuing higher education for 30 years.

Walker is grateful the tradition continues.

“This is rewarding, to be able to uplift our youth and to have that support coming from Black women is so impactful on our communities,” Walker said.

Retired state Supreme Court Justice Cynthia Baldwin, a one-time Semper Fidelis scholarship recipient, was the keynote speaker for the event. She offered words of encouragement to the awardees.

“These young people are going and growing. Often, when we leave for school, many don’t come back. My hope is that these young people will give back to the city one day,” Baldwin said.

President Norine Jenkins closed out the ceremony with some advice about looking in the mirror.

“I want you to live things about yourselves. Recognize what you do well and build on those things,” said Jenkins.

Santana Kennedy plans to attend Indiana University of Pennsylvania for culinary arts so she can have her own business someday.

“I want to open up a restaurant as well as a bakery and make it the type of business where you feel at home,” said Kennedy.

Treyvon Bowling is headed to Duquesne University to study mechanical engineering with a goal to work in the automotive or aeronautical industries. He will also serve as a mechanic in the Army National Guard.

Saniya Rivers will be attending Robert Morris University to pursue a business degree.

“I will use that to build multiple businesses that serve and employ people in my community,” said Rivers. She also wants to create homeless shelters that offer career training and mental health resources, as well as financial literacy programs.

Nya O’Neal, of West Mifflin. is a rising senior at Howard University and plans to attend law school after graduation. She is member of Tube City Writers, a program of the McKeesport Community Newsroom.