The Crusader Newspaper Group

Crown Point student awarded for racial studies

The Davidson Institute of Talent Development has announced the 2016 Davidson Fellows. Among the honorees is 17-year-old Justine Izah of Crown Point, Ind. Izah won a $10,000 Davidson Fellows Scholarship for her project, An Examination of Black Liberation, Stereotypes, Healthcare and Education Through the Eyes of a Black Woman. She is one of only 20 students from across the country to receive this honor.

“Being a Davidson Fellow means that I am able to share personal experiences backed by academic research in order to show peers that a change needs to come about,” said Izah.

In her project, Izah explored the racial disparities facing Black people, specifically women, and the inequities they experience in education, health care, and economic status. Inspired by her own experiences of being treated differently growing up, Izah hopes that her research will shed light on the Black experience and generate empathy in non-Black readers.

Beyond her interests in writing and political activism, Izah also enjoys fashion, fitness, and music. She has played the piano since she was two years old and she has been involved in several community organizations, including the Girl Scouts of America and South Shore Leadership for Community Engagement.

In addition to the Davidson Fellows Scholarship, Izah received the Nagubadi Family Scholarship and the Provost Scholarship from Indiana University. She will attend Indiana University this fall to pursue a degree in sociology.

“We are thrilled to recognize the 2016 Davidson Fellows not only for their incredible projects, but also for the journey they forged to reach this point,” said Bob Davidson, founder of the Davidson Institute. “Every year I am amazed by the depth of the Fellows’ accomplishments. Through encouragement and recognition, the Davidson Institute for Talent Development anticipates that gifted students like these will be among the pioneers who will solve the world’s most vexing problems.”

The 2016 Davidson Fellows will be honored at a reception in Washington, D.C., on September 21.

Recent News

Scroll to Top