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The S. Delois Mayes Scholarship Foundation hosted their 11th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service event on Monday. The event serves as a way to recognize leaders in the community who embody the spirit of King while also raising funds for their scholarships.

This year, three Community Leadership Awards were given out. Community activist Robin Whitley and Pastor Karl Wilkins, Sr. received the Community Leadership Award. Nansemond River High School senior Anyia Woods received the Emerging Leader Award.

Narendra Pleas, the Commonwealth’s Attorney, introduced Wilkins and presented him with his award.

In her speech, Pleas mentioned he “works with youth tirelessly in our community all the time” as well as bringing ministry to local prisons. He also teaches prisoners how to be barbers. 

“He’s that kind of person that is always giving, always working, always trying to make that next connection, because he’s always trying to save a life,” Pleas said.

Wilkins was also this year’s keynote speaker, sharing reflections about Martin Luther King Jr. and how to come back from setbacks.  

Ebony Wright, foundation founder and president, said Whitley and Woods were two of three nominees for the Community Leadership Award. Because of her age, Wright said the foundation board decided to create the Emerging Leader Award for Woods.

Wright said Whitley is “being recognized because she carries the spirit of Dr. King” through her social justice and equality activism. 

Gwendolyn Ellis-Wilson is on the scholarship foundation Board of Directors, and she introduced Whitely and presented her with the award.

Whitley focuses her efforts on social justice, primarily through voter education. She currently works for the City of Suffolk as a water treatment quality control technician and is involved in many other community organizations. 

“Her unwavering commitment to these causes ensures that every voice is served and every individual has the opportunity to participate in the democratic process,” Ellis-Wilson said. “Robin’s leadership and advocacy continues to inspire positive change, reflecting Dr. King’s belief in the transformative power of collective action to build a more just and equitable society.”

During her acceptance speech, Whitley said her parents gave her “the spirit of advocacy” and she emphasized the importance of instilling that spirit in younger generations.

“Our young people are our future, and it’s very important that we bring them along the way, and as we lift up, they’ll take a hand with us,” she said.

School Board member Karen Jenkins introduced Woods.

Woods received the emerging leader award for her success in and out of the classroom. Woods has been an honor student all four years she’s been at Nansemond River and is a member of the National Honor Society, National Beta Club, and the National Society of High School Scholars. 

She also serves as Nansemond River’s Morgan’s Message Ambassador, advocating for mental health awareness for student athletes. As an athlete who struggles with anxiety, Woods is able to speak about Morgan’s Message from personal experience.

“Mental health is, especially for athletes, is something a lot of teenagers and people in general struggle with, and I honestly think it’s good for someone to come out and say, ‘Hey, it’s okay. We all struggle, it’s okay,’” Woods said.

Wright said Woods is “just exceptional.”

In regards to the newly created emerging leader award, Wright said they wanted to “go above and beyond to encourage our young people and our young adults to step out, volunteer, do great academically and excel in whatever it is that you do.”

The MLK Day of Service brunch not only awards leaders in the community who embody the spirit of King, but it’s also where the majority of scholarship funds come from each year.

Wright said the foundation has awarded over $116,000 in scholarship money since 2013. 

The foundation was started by Wright in honor of her late sister, Shontoyia “Toyia” Delois Mayes who passed away in 2002 from a car accident. She studied English at Old Dominion University, and her dream was to write a book.

“At the time of her death, she was only a chapter into that book,” Wright said. “So each year, the S. Delois Mayes Scholarship Foundation writes a chapter on that book by writing scholarships to students at Suffolk Public Schools.”