Community Spotlight on Youth: Jayla Burton of South Euclid

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT ON YOUTH

Multi-Talented Youth Makes Friends, Grades, Music, and History

Becomes First African-American Homecoming Queen at NDCL

Jayla Burton must have a gold medal for time management stashed away somewhere.

Jayla I. Burton

The South Euclid resident made history recently when her fellow students at Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin (NDCL) High School in Chardon selected her as this year’s Homecoming Queen. She is the first African American in school history to win the title.

"I was so surprised that I'd won,” beamed Jayla. “I am humbled, thankful and excited. I feel honored to represent my school in this way."

Frequently referred to as, “one of the nicest young ladies in the school,” Jayla is a good friend to many. An excellent student, Jayla is a member of the National Honor Society, Science Olympiad, and writes for the school newspaper and yearbook. She is also a member of NDCL’s marching band where she serves as Captain of the Color Guard. Band Director Adam Pysell frequently calls upon Jayla to play her flute with the concert band.

This past summer Jayla won a paid internship with Improve Training and Consulting Group, a Cleveland-based consulting firm where she learned about group dynamics, lean business practices and Emotional Intelligence (EI). This opportunity came through Leaders of Tomorrow, a youth leadership program sponsored by the National Black MBA Association, Cleveland Chapter.

[Note to parents, educators, aunts & uncles: there is an orientation meeting for LOT program applicants next weekend. Info here.]

In the spring of 2012, Jayla traveled to Nicaragua on an immersion and missions trip with other NDCL students. She served in the mission field again this summer when she helped to build a porch for a disabled woman in West Virginia.

When not in school, Jayla works part-time as a sales associate at Sears.  She continues to volunteer her time as the Vice President of the Youth Section of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) and helping older adults at A.M. McGregor Nursing Home.  Jayla enjoys photography, crocheting and participating in modern, ballet and liturgical dance.

NDCL Homecoming Queen Jayla I. Burton and King Mark Mullinger

Parents Ed and Denise Burton take partial credit for raising a daughter whose selfless passion for others runs deep. "This was a very pleasant surprise for Jayla and our family," says Denise. “This honor may say a lot about Jayla, but it says even more about the school and her friends and peers. We are truly blessed that she and our other daughter have the opportunity to attend NDCL."

"I was really surprised, but very happy for Jayla,” offered Ed.  “This is a highlight of her high school and senior year experience."

Jayla is enjoying her senior year at NDCL, and plans to major in physical therapy at an Ohio college next fall.

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