This article originally appeared in the 2020-2021 issue of The District

In June 2021, the first Estelle Walker Hinkins Scholarship was awarded to a Morristown High School student. The Bethel Church of Morristown established this scholarship to honor Mother Estelle Walker Hinkins, who graduated from Morristown High School in 1897 with honors and distinction of class prophet, making her the first African American woman to do so.

Following high school, Mother Hinkins attended Wilberforce University in Wilberforce, Ohio where she earned a degree in education. After being denied an opportunity to teach in Morris County, she taught in the Atlantic City School District, but remained committed to the youth of Morristown, and along with Mrs. Early, started the Phyllis Wheatley Women’s Club on Spring Street. One of the club’s main focuses was teaching children how to read.

Her former students fondly remembered Mother Hinkins as “strict”. They were probably unaware that Miss Estelle, as she was called, was the granddaughter of former slaves in Morris County and desired the best education for her students so that they would never allow that history to repeat itself.

Estelle was a member of Bethel Church of Morristown who proudly commemorated their 176^th anniversary by recognizing pioneers in education, civic organizations, and the corporate community. The church honored her memory and her work by creating the Estelle Walker Hinkins Memorial Scholarship through the Morris Educational Foundation to award $1,000 to a Morristown High School senior of African American or African descent pursuing a degree and career path in education.

MHS senior, Noah Richardson, has been selected as the recipient of this honorable scholarship. As Vice President of the Class of 2021, member of the Future Teachers Club and an active scholar in the nonprofit education/leadership organization, Platinum Minds, Noah has shown his commitment to education. With plans to major in Social Studies Education at Ithaca College, his goal is to provide all students with an equitable and inclusive education, and ultimately to become Secretary of Education.

Noah’s sentiment, “that it needs to start with history classrooms. Students of all backgrounds and identities must learn different and similar histories. It builds empathy and self-confidence within children, traits that the future leaders of our country must have if we are hungry to achieve progress in our society,” echoes Mother Hinkins values, as does his background. Noah’s mother, Nicole Richardson, teaches at Normandy Park School in the Morris School District. His father, Darnell Richardson, is an MHS alumnus as well and is currently the Morristown Police Captain.