Student-Led “Ensley Awakened” Proposal Earns Top Honors for Community Revitalization Vision

Three Alabama A&M University Honors scholars earned first place and $15,000 at the 2026 Penny Games Business Case Competition, presenting an innovative proposal to revitalize Birmingham’s historic Ensley community through arts, culture and economic development.

Senior computer science major Uchenna Justin, sophomore communications media major Jailah Richie and junior finance major Autumn Peoples captured the competition’s $10,000 first-place prize and an additional $5,000 Community Award for their proposal, “Ensley Awakened: The Solution for Ensley Is Ensley Herself.”

A portion of the $15,000 award will go to the student competitors, with the remainder supporting Alabama A&M’s Honors Program.

The competition, held virtually Oct. 2, challenged students from historically Black colleges and universities to develop practical business solutions supporting the Ensley Black Arts District Masterplan, a community-centered initiative focused on strengthening the neighborhood through arts, culture, history and creative economic opportunities.

Competing against teams from Texas Southern University, Oakwood University and Virginia State University, the AAMU scholars proposed launching Ensley Awakened, a resident-led revitalization initiative operated through a resident-owned cooperative. The approach prioritizes making Ensley a more attractive and vibrant community while creating opportunities for business development and local ownership.

Justin, a senior from Abuja, Nigeria, served as team leader, coordinating the group’s research, strategy and presentation. Richie, a sophomore from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, led historical research, while Peoples, a junior from Spring Hill, Tennessee, majoring in finance with a minor in computer science, oversaw financial planning and logistics.

“I am proud of my team for turning a few days of extensive work into something that'll have a real lasting impact!” Justin said. “Thank you to the organizers, judges, and our coaches for believing in us.”

Richie said researching Ensley’s history and exploring opportunities for its future made the experience especially meaningful.

“I am so honored to be a part of this project,” Richie said. “Learning about the history of Ensley, a town located in the Birmingham region, was such a powerful experience.”

Richie also expressed excitement about the possibility of the team’s proposal being presented to community leaders for consideration and potential implementation.

For Peoples, the competition provided an opportunity to strengthen analytical and problem-solving skills while applying classroom knowledge to a real-world challenge.

“This competition taught me how to better understand and structure a problem while challenging me to think more critically, in depth, and outside of the box,” Peoples said. “It was a valuable experience that strengthened my problem-solving skills and allowed me to approach challenges from different perspectives.”

The Business Case Competition was one of three tracks in which Alabama A&M students participated during the 2026 Penny Games. University scholars also earned second place in the Cybersecurity Challenge and finished as runners-up in the Debate Competition, demonstrating their versatility across business, technology and public speaking.

The results build on Alabama A&M’s success at the previous Penny Games, where seniors Chance Williams and Miracle Olatunji captured first place in the Debate Competition.

Organized by the Penny Foundation, the Penny Games connect HBCU students with opportunities to apply their academic knowledge to real-world challenges while developing skills valued by employers. The Birmingham-based foundation advances economic mobility, civic engagement and community-led solutions through partnerships and strategic investments.

Dr. Monica L. Dillihunt, director of Alabama A&M’s Honors Program, praised the scholars for combining academic excellence with innovation and community engagement.

“I could not be prouder of these amazing Honors students!” Dillihunt said. “It was truly a pleasure working alongside them as they brought their vision for Ensley Awakened to life. Their creativity, dedication, teamwork, and commitment to making a meaningful difference in the community were inspiring.”

Carla Holloway, assistant director of the Honors Program and the team’s coach, said the victory carried special significance because of her personal connection to the community the students hope to strengthen.

“For me, this victory carried an even deeper personal significance. I grew up in Pratt Ensley, so watching my students envision new possibilities for the revitalization of a community that helped shape my own life was truly a full-circle moment,” Holloway said. “As a coach and educator, I can say that our scholars did more than win a competition; they demonstrated the power of scholarship, leadership, and service in action. That is what excellence looks like, and I could not be prouder!”

Celebrating AAMU’s $15,000 Penny Games victory are, from left, Penny Foundation board member Martina Winston; Honors Program Director Dr. Monica L. Dillihunt; AAMU alumna and board member Kristy Stewart; Honors scholars Uchenna Justin and Jailah Richie; assistant director and coach Carla Holloway; and AAMU alumnus and board member Julian Grant.