Edited release
06/20/25
Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate presented the John Lewis Youth Leadership Award to West High School’s Black Student Union Executive Board this week.
The award recognizes Iowans who have demonstrated meaningful commitment to addressing civil rights issues and bringing about authentic change in their communities. Nominations for the John Lewis Youth Leadership Award were open to Iowa residents aged 25 years or under.
The Board consists of Co-Presidents Neema Ash, Alicia Austin, Rawan Babiker, Corte Beal, and Vanessa Shannon and is a student-led organization that supports the Black student population at West High School, but their influence has grown to support the larger Johnson County community as well. The Black Student Union regularly hosts open discussions and panel sessions, including recent events regarding the conditions in Sudan, a Black-owned business fair, and a field trip to the African American Museum in Cedar Rapids. The group attended the local Black History Ball and received Black History Month Proclamations on behalf of Iowa City and Johnson County earlier this year.
The John Lewis Youth Leadership Award was established in 2021 by the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) as a way for every state to honor the extraordinary accomplishments of Congressman John Lewis. Secretaries of State across the nation are encouraged to recognize gifted, civic-minded young people with demonstrated leadership abilities with the award each year.