Uncrowned Queens in the Wings

Top to Bottom: Andrea Finley, Olivia Cox, Sylvie Bizimungu, Kerris Sease, Bianca Coleman

On July 7, 2007, the Uncrowned Queens Institute announced the launch of its young women’s version of Uncrowned Queens. It is called Uncrowned Queens in the Wings. The first announcement of the new program segment took place during the taping of the Uncrowned Queens Television Program, Illuminations. The show was taped during the Third Annual Book Fair hosted by the Black Capital Network and a number of other contributors.

The first young women identified as Uncrowned Queens in the Wings are students at the Buffalo Prep here in Buffalo, New York. Five young women nominated by Jennifer Parker, CEO of Black Capital Network were the first all girl science team at the National Science Bowl. The young women are: Andrea Finley, Olivia Cox, Sylvie Bizimungu, Kerris Sease, and Bianca Coleman.

Andrea Finley is a 16 year old sophomore at Sweet Home High School in Buffalo, New York. Miss Finley is highly active in her school and community. Bianca Coleman is a junior at Nardin Academy. The intense atmosphere at her school inspires her to do well in science and other subjects. She aspires to become a forensic scientist or chemist. Kerris Sease is a junior at Nardin Academy in Buffalo, New York. She attended Waterfront Elementary pre-K through 8th grade. Her professional aspirations are to become an OB/GYN, a toxicologist, or work in the field of physics. Olivia Cox attended City Honors High School and science is the only subject that captures her interests. She will enter University at Buffalo in the fall of 2007 as a nursing major with aspirations to become a registered nurse anesthetist, with a possibility of attending medical school in the future. Sylvie Bizimungu was born in Kagli, the capital of Rwanda. She attended Nardin Academy with the help of Buffalo Prep in preparing her for high school, a 14-month program that prepared students in the subjects of Science, Math, American History and English. 

Each of these young women deserves to be recognized for their beginning efforts to contribute to the building of their lives and professions as well as their communities. We applaud their efforts.