Johanna Matota, a senior at Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School who is a researcher, community servant and founder of her school’s Black student union, earned the W.S. McIntosh Memorial Leadership Award. Watch a video of her receive the news here.
The award, which honors the legacy of Dayton civil rights leader W.S. McIntosh, includes a full-tuition scholarship to the University of Dayton and a paid internship with the city of Dayton. It is presented annually to a graduating high school student who lives in or attends a school in Dayton and demonstrates a commitment to social justice and community leadership.
Matota, who plans to pursue a career as a physician to address health disparities, impressed the selection committee with her dedication to servant leadership She was a founding member of BAMM (Black Alliance Making Moves) at Chaminade Julienne, volunteers at local food pantries and completed an "urban plunge" in Cincinnati, where she served in soup kitchens and homeless shelters. She won an award for her research through the Horizons in Medicine program at Wright State University.
"Johanna stands out as a compassionate, articulate and driven individual who possesses a rare combination of empathy, leadership and unwavering commitment to creating positive change," said Chaminade Julienne Student Activities Coordinator Peyton Keys.
The award commemorates W.S. McIntosh, who organized peaceful protests against discriminatory hiring practices in Dayton and served as the executive director of the Dayton chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). He died in 1974 while trying to prevent a robbery in downtown Dayton.