By James Windell
Two scholarships were awarded to graduates of local high schools at the 48th Annual Black History Program at Lily of the Valley Church on Sunday, February 15, 2026.
The Black History Leadership Society’s Youth on the Rise Scholarship is an annual award given to a college‑bound student in the South Haven community. The scholarship recognizes academic promise, leadership, and commitment to Black history and culture. Each year, during Black History Month, the scholarships are presented to the recipients.
This year’s scholarship winners were William Bettis Jr. and Antonio Mahone Perkins.
William Bettis, Jr. is a graduate of South Haven High School and was a past Youth on the Rise $1000 scholarship winner. He is currently in his second year of the nursing program at Western Michigan University.
“William has been on the Dean’s list for the past three years at Western Michigan University,” noted Dorothy Sherrod, a long-time member of the a member of the Black History Leadership Society, who presented the scholarship to Bettis.
The 2026 Youth on the Rise scholarship winner, Antonio Mahone Perkins, is a 2025 graduate of Covert High School. He, too, is attending Western Michigan University where he is Computer Engineering. When presenting him with the $1000 scholarship, Sherrod said that “Antonio is on the dean’s list already.”
The Black History Leadership Society ‘s goal is to increase the scholarship for 2027 to $1500. “We are proud to see these young men strive to further their education,” Sherrod says. “ Anyone wishing to help us increase our scholarships can make a donations to the BHLS Scholarship account at Honors Credit Union.”
The Black History Leadership Society (BHLS) of South Haven is a long‑standing community organization dedicated to preserving, celebrating, and teaching Black history through annual programs, exhibits, and youth scholarships. Their work is deeply woven into South Haven’s cultural life, especially during Black History Month. The Youth on the Rise scholarship program reflects the BHLS’s long‑standing commitment to uplifting youth and preserving Black heritage in South Haven.
