The community came together on Sunday, June 1, at Antioch Baptist Church to honor the achievements of 34 African American students during the annual Cedar Valley Faces of Excellence graduation ceremony. This baccalaureate event recognized 22 high school and 12 college graduates from public and private institutions across the Cedar Valley.
Organized by a coalition of local African American churches, Cedar Valley Faces of Excellence’s mission is to uplift African American graduates, providing them with encouragement and life preparation as they move into the next phase of their educational and professional journeys.
The graduation ceremony served as a platform to celebrate the hard work, dedication, and perseverance of local students. This year’s keynote speaker was Cierra D. Newman, Waterloo native and Assistant General Counsel and Vice President at Wells Fargo. East High School’s Georvon Tyler, an honor roll student and John Deere apprentice, delivered the high school student address and college graduates were represented by Lischelle Oliver, a registered nurse and graduate of Hawkeye Community College.
In addition to the formal ceremony, graduates participated in a rehearsal luncheon featuring educational workshops on financial literacy, career readiness, and life skills. Presenters included local business and education leaders who shared tools and strategies to equip graduates for long-term success.
Cedar Valley Faces of Excellence remains a vital source of support and recognition for African American students in the Cedar Valley, celebrating their accomplishments and helping to build a strong foundation for their futures. The Waterloo Community Foundation is proud to partner in their efforts as a fiscal sponsor.
Cedar Valley Faces of Excellence Chair, Dr. Miriam Tyson, says, “We are grateful and excited to be on this journey with the Foundation as they share our vision to enrich the lives of our young people, our most treasured asset”.
Community members interested in donating to Cedar Valley Faces of Excellence can give online at https://wloocf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=3046 or by mailing a check to Waterloo Community Foundation, PO Box 1253, Waterloo, IA 50704 with “Cedar Valley Faces of Excellence in the memo line.
