Vel R. Phillips Trailblazer Award, Akuwa Dantzler Scholarship Awarded at Girls’ Day
During yesterday’s 16th Annual Girls’ Day at City Hall event, several honors were handed out by Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs to women who are leaders in the community, both now and in the future.
Tanner Kilander received the Vel R. Phillips Trailblazer Award for her service to the community. The award recognizes a female city resident who exemplifies Vel R. Phillips’ legacy of selfless service and trailblazing work to improve the quality of life for Milwaukee residents.
Tanner Kilander is an attorney in Milwaukee County who primarily works at the Vel R. Phillips Juvenile Justice Center, taking public defender cases. She represents children in criminal cases, as well as children and adults who are especially vulnerable and in need of someone to act as their guardian in legal matters. Her clientele is mainly children of color, and she fights relentlessly for all of her clients and has fought some long, hard legal battles.
“Through her dedicated work, Tanner Kilander has exemplified the spirit of Vel Phillips by fighting for and supporting those in need within our community,” Alderwoman Coggs said. “It was my honor to bestow this year’s Vel R. Phillips Trailblazer award to Tanner Kilander.”
Additionally, in honor of the late Akuwa Dantzler, longtime 6th District Legislative Aide, the annual scholarship presented at Girls’ Day was renamed the Akuwa Dantzler Girls’ Day @ City Hall Scholarship.
“In lieu of flowers or other items, when anyone asked me how they could contribute in remembering Akuwa, I encouraged them to give to the Girls’ Day Scholarship Fund, something Akuwa was extremely passionate about,” Ald. Coggs noted. “With special thanks to Summerfest, the Camille Lonstorf Foundation, and many individual donors, we were able to provide two scholarships to a pair of incredibly deserving young women. Both of whom I know will go on to do tremendous things.”
The 2026 recipients of the Akuwa Dantzler Girls’ Day @ City Hall Scholarship were Zoe Chambers, a senior at Golda Meir High School, and Sydney Purifoy-Mahone, a senior at Brookfield Academy. Both students will receive a $1,500 scholarship.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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