A local high school student who has distinguished herself through academic and volunteer activities is among the four local Black residents who will be honored Saturday in the sixth annual Bowling Green Black Achievers Banquet.

The banquet, to be held at 6 p.m. at State Street Baptist Church, is put together by the Martin Luther King Jr. Day planning committee and serves as a fundraiser for that committee.

Greenwood High School senior Nadia Jones, who is student body president and a member of the National Honor Society, will be the first high school student recognized as a Black Achiever.

“She is someone who stands out,” said Felecia Bland, chair of the MLK Day planning committee. “When we saw the different things she does in the community, she stood out as a leader.”

At Greenwood, Jones is president of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America club and a member of the Beta Club, Future Business Leaders of America, and Superintendent Advisory Council.

She will be honored Saturday along with these other three local leaders:

– Gambia Flemister, a Louisville native who earned degrees at Western Kentucky University in corporate and organizational communication and Spanish education. During a 19-year career in education, Flemister has taught at Bowling Green High School, Bowling Green Junior Hig and Valor Academy in Nashville. She is program coordinator for the Black Male Scholars program at BGJH and also coaches track and field.

– Dr. Daniel Boamah, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and founder of KY STEPS Behavioral Health Services who serves as an assistant professor in the Department of Social Work at WKU. His research has focused on addressing structural and racial inequities, and he has authored manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals and books.

– GeMonee Brown, a WKU graduate and former Hilltopper football player who has fashioned a successful career in real estate. Brown has ranked among the top sales achievers nationally for Crye-Leike Executive Realty. He also owns and manages more than 50 rental units in southern Kentucky, focusing on affordable housing, and is owner of Bundles of Joy Childcare.

Ryan Dearbone, president of Bowling Green’s NAACP chapter and a member of the MLK Day planning committee, said it’s important to recognize prominent local Black achievers through this event.

“This is our chance to focus in locally on what our achievers are doing,” Dearbone said. “Dr. King was all about achieving in different ways.”

Bland said this year’s Black Achievers Banquet has added significance because of the recent deaths of former Housing Authority of Bowling Green Executive Director Abraham Williams and former Bowling Green Human Rights Commission Chair Wathetta Buford.

“This (Black Achievers Banquet) is something that Abraham Williams started,” Bland said. “This year, he basically put the whole thing together from his hospital bed.”

Bland said Saturday’s event will include tributes to Williams and Buford along with recognition of the four Black Achievers.

Tickets for Saturday’s banquet are $30 and are available at the Human Rights Commission on Double Springs Road. Bland said a limited number of tickets will be available at State Street Baptist Church Saturday.