Like most dedicated achievers, Richard Watkins and Yunina Barbour-Payne are more concerned about the work they do than any accolades they might receive as a result.

But last night, they were celebrated as two of the local African-American community's best and brightest stars at the Chestnut Street Family YMCA's 29th Annual Black Achievers Awards Celebration.

The event, held at the Kentucky International Convention Center, celebrates academic and volunteer achievements of African Americans from throughout Louisville and Southern Indiana.

Barbour-Payne, a duPont Manual High School senior, was named 2008 Youth Achiever of the Year, and Watkins, budget officer for the infrastructure and flood-protection division with the Metropolitan Sewer District, was named the 2008 Adult Achiever of the Year.

Louisville native, pro-basketball great and entrepreneur Allen Wade Houston Jr. was named the 2008 Distinguished Achiever of the Year.

Barbour-Payne, a Newburg resident, said she felt blessed and surprised to receive such recognition.

"It was like an out-of-body experience," the 18-year-old said with a chuckle as she recalled hearing the news. "I was like, 'Am I on Punk'd?' I feel so humbled."

The teen is a theater major at the Youth Performing Arts School. She has danced since age 3 and appeared in myriad performances, including 2002 and 2004 stints in the Stage One production of "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" and the performing arts school's "Seussical the Musical."

Barbour-Payne is also a member of the National Honor Society, her school's Key Club and the ETHICS -- Enrichment Through Helping Individuals Succeed -- Society.

Watkins was also modest about his award as a steady stream of well-wishers congratulated him before the event.

"I'm the type of person who just tries to do what he can for what he sees as something good and doesn't really seek praise," he said. "I'm not so much embarrassed as a little taken aback. It is very humbling."

Watkins' involvement with the program dates to the 1980s, when he accepted a participation challenge from fellow Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity member and now-retired Chestnut Street branch director Walter Barnes. In 1993, MSD sponsored him as an adult achiever. 

Since then, he's never looked back. He is vice chairman of the program's steering committee and chairman of its awards celebration logistics committee. He once served as a board member of the Plymouth Community Renewal Center, Louisville Community Development Center and Chestnut Street YMCA.

He has also been honored by the YMCA for outstanding volunteer service.

Established in Louisville in 1980, Black Achievers is part of a national YMCA initiative that connects adult mentors with African Americans in eighth through 12th grades.

Through Black Achievers, the youths explore different careers, tour businesses and colleges, earn scholarships and participate in work-study programs.

Since the Louisville effort began, 1,700 high school seniors from throughout Southern Indiana and Bullitt, Hardin, Jefferson, Nelson, Oldham and Shelby counties have earned more than $17 million in scholarships and about 1,600 adults have served as mentors and role models.

This article was provided by: Courier Journal
Written by: Sheryl Edelen