Two Young St. Markers Receive UBE Scholarships

Last Saturday, members of St. Mark’s joined the Union of Black Episcopalians Scholarship Luncheon at the new diocesan center in Livingston to celebrate the achievements of our graduating seniors. We are proud to announce that Bryce Johnson and Jaslyn Mitchell-Drake were both awarded scholarships.

Bryce is a graduating high school senior with interests in creativity, technology, and community involvement. Throughout high school, he participated in sports, volunteering, and leadership opportunities that helped him grow personally and academically. At St. Mark’s he assists with nursery care for our youngest parishioners and was featured in last year’s Martin Luther King scholarship luncheon in a reading of Letter from a Birmingham Jail.

Bryce will be attending High Point University, where he plans to pursue a career as a graphic designer for a game studio, where he hopes to combine art and technology to create engaging visual experiences.

Jaslyn is a graduating senior at Bergen County Technical High School -Teterboro. Throughout her four years, Jaslyn has maintained a rigorous academic schedule of AP,
honors, and dual enrollment courses, becoming an AP Scholar and earning Honor Roll status. She seamlessly balanced her heavy course load with intense extracurricular commitments.

At St. Mark’s, Jaslyn serves as Senior Acolyte and Lector, and holds the distinction of being the youngest parishioner selected to deliver a Living Epistle during our stewardship campaign. She is also a competitive dancer at Broadway Bound Dance Center, currently completing her twelfth and final season as both a soloist and company member.

This fall, Jaslyn will attend Rutgers University – New Brunswick, where she plans to major in Psychology on a pre-medical track. Bringing her characteristic discipline, leadership, and dedication to community involvement, she will work to the best of her ability to accomplish her goal of becoming a psychiatrist. Jaslyn is deeply honored to have been selected as a recipient of the Marguerite E. Smith UBE Scholarship and will continue to work to better others and promote meaningful change through advocacy.

A special highlight of the afternoon was hearing from former UBE scholarship recipient and fellow St. Marker Ava Tomlinson, who returned to share reflections on her first year at Spelman College. Her remarks were both inspiring and insightful, offering encouragement and wisdom to this year’s graduates.

Our own rector, the Rev. Joan F. Conley had the honor of introducing both Bryce and Jaslyn. Several St. Mark’s members were also in attendance, including Marsha Mackey, Jeanette Adams, and the Rev. Deacon Jackie McLeod.

The Union of Black Episcopalians was organized in 1968 as the Union of Black Clergy and Laity, the Union inherited the work of earlier organizations – including the Convocation of Colored Clergy and the Conference of Church Workers Among Colored People – all dedicated to the ministry of Black people in the Episcopal Church. The name was changed to the Union of Black Episcopalians in 1971. Inspired by the National U.B.E. Conference, the Rev. Deacon Cedric Thompson of Christ Church, East Orange, along with other committed clergy and laity, helped found the U.B.E. Diocese of Newark Chapter in 1976. The first meetings were held at The House of Prayer in Newark, bringing together a community rooted in faith and action.

The Chapter’s early efforts focused on civil rights education, voter registration, financial empowerment, tutoring at local schools, and supporting people of color discerning calls to ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church. From the beginning, the Union has worked to strengthen and uplift Black congregations and communities across the Diocese of Newark. Today, our Chapter sponsors several service and leadership-related events and activities during the year.

Congratulations, Bryce and Jaslyn! We are incredibly proud of your accomplishments and wish you continued success in your educational journeys.