Afa’s Award: Senior Afa Akwanka’a wins certificate of achievement for the Princeton Prize in Race Relations

Enjoying the first day of spring break, senior Afa Akwanka’a checked his spam–filled inbox to luckily notice one. Upon seeing the “2023 Princeton Prize Kansas City Announcement,” he opened it instantly. He’d been selected as an honoree for the Princeton Prize in Race Relations.
Established in 2003, the award recognizes individuals who have done work to improve equity, equality and inclusion within their community through different programs or individual ways on their own.
“I’ve always been an advocate for equality, especially for African Americans,” Akwanka’a said. “But I’m happy to know that the community officially recognized me in that way.”
Akwanka’a has always done his best to help his fellow students of color, working with the district on the Youth Equity Stewardship Committee and starting the Coalition of Racial Equity club, sponsored by associate principal Dr. Susan Leonard, who nominated him for the award.
“I’ve seen Afa in two or three situations that made me think [to nominate] him,” Leonard said. “I’ve seen him serve on student panels where he talks to educators like [me] and tells us basically everything we’re doing wrong, which takes a lot of guts and it also takes extra time.”
Akwanka’a has always gone above and beyond, cementing his legacy by being voted for by his peers to become East’s first Black Homecoming King in the school’s 60-year history.
“[After winning Homecoming King] I now know once I’m gone, I’m giving [students of color] this idea that you know, even though I’m in a space where I may not feel included, or may not see people like me, I’m still welcome and I can still thrive,” Akwanka’a said.
Now Akwanka’a will be celebrated for his achievement at a local awards ceremony that is being planned by the Princeton alumni committee for him and his fellow honorees.
“At first I didn’t think of it as like a big deal,” Akwanka’a said. “But the messages kept flooding in and people kept talking about it. I’m happy to be recognized by the community for [my accomplishment].”