The Greensboro City Council will recognize five James B. Dudley High School seniors with the 2026 Morningside Awards during its Tuesday, July 21 meeting.
The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber of the Melvin Municipal Office Building at 300 W. Washington St.
The City of Greensboro’s Human Rights Department presents the awards each in memory of the five people killed during the 1979 anti-Ku Klux Klan demonstration in Greensboro’s Morningside Homes community. The awards recognize graduating Dudley seniors who’ve demonstrated “a commitment to social justice and equality.”
Each recipient will receive a $2,979 award to help support future education, employment or entrepreneurial pursuits. The amount commemorates the year of the shooting.
The Greensboro City Council established the Morningside Awards in 2020 to honor the lives of Cesar Cauce, Dr. Michael Nathan, William Evan Simpson, Sandray Neely Smith and Dr. James Waller, who were killed during the Nov. 3, 1979 shooting. With this year’s class, 30 Dudley students will have received the honor since the program began.
The 2026 recipients are Maurice Cameron, LaRiyah Gainey, Madison Jones, Blair Talton and Zakaria “Kari” Taylor.
Maurice Cameron, who was selected as Mr. Dudley for the 2025-2026 school year, was a four-sport varsity letterman and member of the Greensboro Youth Council. He also participated in the National Society of Black Engineers and the Senior Class Council. Cameron plans to attend UNC Charlotte to study electromechanical engineering technology with a concentration in robotic engineering. He hopes to use robotics and engineering to solve real-world problems through leadership, education and service.
LaRiyah Gainey, the senior class vice president and a volleyball letter winner, plans to study architecture at UNC Charlotte. She says she wants to help families obtain safe, affordable and well-designed housing by creating homes that are durable, attractive and accessible.
Madison Jones, who was selected as Miss Dudley for the 2025-2026 school year, plans to attend North Carolina A&T State University to study social work. She said she hopes to pursue a career in local and state government, advocating for transparency, equity and expanded opportunities for underserved communities while gaining a deeper understanding of how public policy affects education, economic opportunity, public safety and access to resources.
Blair Talton will attend East Carolina University on a pre-med track with plans to become a physician. Her involvement with Healthcare Occupations Students of America and community health initiatives focused on wellness and Black maternal health strengthened her interest in addressing healthcare disparities. She hopes to advocate for equitable and compassionate patient care.
Zakaria “Kari” Taylor participated in North Carolina A&T State University’s TRIO Upward Bound Program and the Dudley Ladies service-learning group. She’ll attend NC A&T to study nursing and says she wants to help address health disparities affecting Black families. Taylor, who’s the recipient of the 2026 Reginald & Mildred Womble Scholarship, believes Black nurses play an important role in improving health outcomes by building trust with patients, bridging cultural gaps and improving communication with families.
The city’s Human Rights Department administers the awards as part of its stated mission to promote mutual understanding, respect and fair treatment for Greensboro residents regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability or familial status.
