The Women’s Achievement Club, a community organization based in Aliquippa, was founded in 1945. Their mission is to achieve new heights in African American citizenship, education and culture. Years ago the group used to select a group of deserving students that were going to college and give them a check for $50 and a watch. Fast forward to May 27, now the Women’s Achievement Club holds an Annual Scholarship Luncheon.This year it was held at the Pittsburgh Airport Marriott Hotel, and they made donations to the Black College Tour and grant scholarships to students from their area.
Scholarships were awarded to three students: Bryce Allen (Beaver Falls), Trey Adams (Quaker Valley) and Kaleah Jones (Central Valley). Four students were selected as “Students of the Season,” and one student for each season of the year received a monetary award. Those students included: Bryce Allen (Beaver Falls), Hannah Davis (Moon Area), Robert Goode (Moon Area) and Loreal Willis (Aliquippa). A special award was presented to the child of a club member. This year’s special award was presented to Peri Murphy (Quaker Valley), the daughter of Henry and Carol Murphy.
During the luncheon guests enjoyed a scene from the play “The Journey of Dianne’s Hart” with actors Dianne Hart Pettis, Stephanie Akers and Ijasneem. The guest speaker for the afternoon was Emmy Award-winning film director, composer and mentor Emmai Alaquiva. His theme was “promoting achievement for higher success.” Alaquiva said growing up his life was like a Hip-Hop song. He grew up with gang violence in Wilkinsburg and was a hard headed young man. He revealed that at age 13 he tried to sell drugs but got robbed on his first day of business, that day was also his last day of business. Around that time he fell in love with Hip-Hop. For a period of his life he was homeless and joined the YMCA just to take showers. Alaquiva says Hip-Hop saved his life. Today he is the proud CEO of Ya Momz House Inc., an award-winning multimedia company, director for CBS Sports Network’s Daytime Emmy-nominated TV Show Game Changers, as well as co-founder of the award-winning arts education program, Hip-Hop on L.O.C.K., which has over 48 partnerships in 11 school districts and has served more than 5,000 young people throughout Western Pennsylvania.
Women’s Achievement Club members also reside in Sewickley, Moon Township and Beaver County as well as Aliquippa.
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