Photos by: Monica Morgan Photography
Imagine having to teach yourself how to navigate FAFSA before sunrise, then rushing to class with an empty stomach, all while caring for younger siblings because your parent works a double shift. That isn’t a hypothetical for many Detroit students—that’s reality. And despite every barrier, these students are graduating, applying to college, and excelling with GPAs that challenge every statistic ever thrown at them. They carry more than books in their backpacks. They carry resilience, brilliance, and quiet hope.
That’s what the SWAG Scholarship exists to honor. SWAG—Students Wired for Achievement and Greatness—is not a title handed out for participation. It is earned, often against all odds. For the past nine years, Huntington Bank and the Michigan Chronicle have linked arms to reward students who define what it means to push forward, no matter how heavy the load.
At Marygrove on Sunday afternoon, that purpose came to life. The 2025 SWAG Awards celebrated 15 graduating seniors with scholarships totaling $100,000 and honored five educators who walk beside them daily, often unseen, always essential. And this year, the program expanded. For the first time, four former SWAG recipients received alumni scholarships to help continue their journeys through college and beyond.
This isn’t corporate philanthropy dressed up for applause. Huntington has invested nearly $2 million into the SWAG program since 2015, supporting students whose stories often never make the headlines. This partnership affirms what community means when banks, Black media, and educators come together not for optics, but for outcome.
The educators honored at this year’s ceremony were not selected lightly. They were nominated by students, parents, and school leaders who described them with words like compassionate, consistent, and transformative. These aren’t just instructors. They are mentors, dream nurturers, and sometimes the only stable adult figure a student might encounter that day.
Torrie Anderson-Lloyd from John R. King Academic and Performing Arts Academy stood among the honorees, known for reimagining her classroom space with bean bag chairs and wobble stools, creating an atmosphere where students feel safe and seen. Her goal is simple: empowerment through environment.
Adam Harris, Director of the Trio Upward Bound Program at Grand Valley State University-University Prep Academy High School in Detroit, uses his role to provide access. From college resources to senior breakfasts and Kente stoles, Adam makes sure his students are not just seen but celebrated.
At Cesar Chavez Academy, Isabella Mahuad has been the heartbeat for English language learners for almost two decades. With her grant, she’ll bring her National Honor Society students to Camp Tamarack for team-building and leadership development.
Ms. Andrella Muffy Gaynor of Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences helps her students discover themselves through art. Her classroom is a place where making mistakes is part of the lesson plan. With the SWAG grant, she will provide hands-on pottery experiences and host student art contests.
Dayna Peoples, Reading Specialist at Voyageur Academy, is tackling the literacy gap head-on. With books, flexible seating, and parent engagement sessions, her work is helping shape the next generation of readers in Detroit. She is building more than a library. She is building legacy.
For students, the scholarships make dreams tangible. From six $2,500 awards, five $5,000 awards, two $10,000 awards, one $15,000 award, and the top prize of a $25,000 award, the financial support reaches far beyond the check. It symbolizes validation. It tells students, “You matter.”
Ahauna Reed, the $25,000 scholarship recipient, couldn’t hold back her tears as she accepted the award. A graduate of Northwestern High School, Ahauna will attend Ohio Technical College to study welding. Her path has not been easy. Passionate about art from a young age, she struggled with setbacks but refused to quit. She saw beauty in welding and carved a future with her own hands. “This is basically a full ride for me. I am extremely grateful. To anybody looking to apply for this next year. Please do. Be proud of yourselves. You’ve made it this far,” she shared.
That kind of humility and power anchored the event. Diop Russell, a proud 2018 SWAG alumni and Spelman College graduate, hosted the ceremony. Jordan Alexander, a 2022 alumni and Western graduate, spoke about how attending a SWAG alumni event led to a job opportunity with Spencer Ford. These are the full-circle moments that redefine impact.
City Council President Mary Sheffield spoke directly to what SWAG represents. “This partnership has made things possible for our Detroit youth. As the youngest elected to the city council at 26, I will be the first to say that if you align with your purpose, doors will open that no man can close. Education equips you with the knowledge to challenge the injustices that we see. Never forget about Detroit. The places that raised you. In Detroit, we need you.”
Huntington Bank’s Gary Torgow framed the idea of heroism in a new light. “Super power isn’t super strength or laser vision. What each of you have is much more powerful.” He encouraged students to understand kindness and compassion as essential lifelines. “Being kind heals. And that’s how it heals the world. So we call you our superheroes. Be kind every step of the way. That’s what real heroes do. That’s what SWAG recipients do.”
Michigan Chronicle publisher and Real Times Media CEO Hiram E. Jackson grounded the energy with a powerful reminder from Omega Psi Phi: “Friendship is essential to the soul.”
And Rev. Wendell Anthony made sure the celebration honored everyone who made it possible. Parents, counselors, teachers—those who invested in these young lives. “Thank you parents for serving as a role model,” he said. “It’s an ROI—seeing how your sacrifices have paid off.” Then he lifted the veil on the broader stakes. “Don’t stop. These are critical times. They want to rewrite your story. Which is why they want to shut down the Department of Education. Now we have a guy that wants to shut down public education and HBCUs. But you can’t stop. Don’t let nobody discourage you. Don’t let today’s circumstances determine your ultimate destination. You got SWAG. So when you step out and step up, act like you belong. Act like you’re the one. When you walk into the room, don’t hold your head down. You are the one. In an affirmative sense. You’re here on purpose. More important than being successful is being significant. The world is calling you.”
To close, he invoked Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise,” a poem that mirrors the truth of what this moment represented.
The SWAG Awards don’t just tell students they have potential. They tell them that we see it, honor it, and will continue to invest in it. That we believe in them enough to put dollars behind their dreams and show up in real ways. That is what community looks like. That is what Detroit does.
And this is only the beginning.
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