St. Ursula Academy senior receives Youth Dreamkeeper’s Award

St. Ursula Academy senior Candace Kirksey has received one of the three 2008 Youth Dreamkeeper’s Awards, sponsored by the Arts Consortium of Cincinnati and The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center 18th Annual Dreamkeeper’s Awards Breakfast in honor of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Jan. 21st. The daughter of Dr. Sanford and Karen Kirksey of Forest Park, Kirksey is a 2008 National Merit Semifinalist with a 4.0 GPA. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Ambassadors Club, Classical Musical Society and Sisters in Cultural Unity. In addition, Kirksey has been a four-year member of SUAVE (St. Ursula Academy Vocal Ensemble), a selected-by-audition 12-member ensemble that has performed at numerous events throughout the Greater Cincinnati area and at Carnegie Hall in 2004 and 2007. She also plays the piano.

“Candace is a very talented vocalist and pianist who has performed as both vocal and piano soloist on many occasions, and who has also served as piano accompanist for our chorus. In addition to being so musically gifted, Candace is also a very poised and polite individual,” says St. Ursula Academy Music Director Kathy Backherms.

Kirksey is the current president of The Bethany Group, a non-profit student-run organization for high school and elementary school students who perform direct community service to the elderly, youth and special needs people in the Greater Cincinnati-area. Because of its outstanding participation in the 2005 National Make a Difference Day, The Bethany Group was chosen to be the 2006 Regional Honoree for the Greater Cincinnati area by the USA Weekend magazine and the Cincinnati Enquirer. Kirksey also is a member of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church of Woodlawn where she is the musician for Children’s Church, and she regularly attends Sunday School. After graduation from St. Ursula, Kirksey plans to attend either the University of Pennsylvania or Spelman College where she would like to pursue a career in Business Law.

St. Ursula Academy is a Catholic, college-preparatory, secondary school for young women.  In 2002 the academy was recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a Blue Ribbon School. The campus, located at 1339 E. McMillan Street in East Walnut Hills has been the home of St. Ursula Academy and Convent since 1910.