St. Paul Central High School alumni will host the 10th annual Central Honors Philando event this weekend to honor Philando Castile’s legacy and raise scholarship funds in his name.
The event Sunday at Toni Stone Field will feature community organizations, kids’ activities like face painting and a climbing wall, art projects, ice cream from Sweet Fruci’s Frozen Delights, live performances and messages from Castile’s family and community leaders.
Central Honors Philando began after Castile was shot to death July 6, 2016, by a St. Anthony police officer during a traffic stop in Falcon Heights. Castile, 32, was a nutrition services supervisor for St. Paul Public Schools. Friends and family describe him as ambitious, a role model for hundreds of children and known for his kindness toward students.
Weeks after his death, Central High School classmates teamed with former principal Mary Mackbee to organize the first event in his memory and launch a scholarship, aiming to spark conversations about police violence and structural racism.
Adrian Perryman, a 2003 Central High School graduate, was part of the small group of alumni who came together to start a scholarship honoring Castile, whom he was friends with in high school.
“We decided we wanted to bring people together to celebrate his life, raise money for the scholarship and also provide opportunities for the community to come together while celebrating his name,” Perryman said.
Castile scholarship
The Philando Castile Memorial Scholarship has been awarded annually since 2017 to a Central High School senior.
Because of Castile’s passion for education and working with children, the scholarship prioritizes students pursuing careers in teaching, administration, child development or counseling, though all applicants are considered. Preference goes to those committed to fostering diversity among educators. Recipients must enroll in a regionally accredited two- or four-year college in the fall.
Allan Lankfard Jr., this year’s scholarship recipient, said hearing his name announced at the senior ceremony was a great feeling, knowing he could honor Castile’s positive impact on the community. He said Minnesota has few Black male teachers and hopes to show kids they can look like him and still make an impact.
Allan Lankfard Jr., center, the ninth Philando Castile Memorial Scholarship recipient, holds his award with Allysza Castile, left, and Valerie Castile, right, on May 22, 2025, at Mary Mackbee Auditorium in Central High School in St. Paul. (Courtesy of Adrian Perryman)
“Knowing that I’m personally picked by his family just goes to show I can be a role model for kids and to anybody,” Lankfard said.
Lankfard is the ninth Central graduate to have been awarded the scholarship. He first learned about the Castile scholarship through a list of opportunities matching students’ qualifications. He plans to use the scholarship to attend Concordia University, St. Paul, where he will also play on the basketball team.
Goal to grow
The scholarship is administered by the St. Paul Central High School Foundation, a nonprofit organization. Central principal Cherise Ayers said the foundation promotes a culture of alumni service, with scholarships playing a key role.
“Seeing students light up when their name is called and granted the scholarship and to know that someone believes in them and wants to invest in their future,” Ayers said. “And it’s extra meaningful that it comes from Philando Castile’s family.”
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The Philando Castile scholarship has collected more than $300,000 in the past decade. The $10,000 award, double last year’s amount, is given over two years, with plans to extend it to further offset education costs.
The next goal is to grow the Philando Castile Memorial Scholarship endowment to support a four-year award totaling up to $20,000, starting with the 10th recipient in 2026.
Perryman said Sunday’s event aims to inspire people to connect, make a difference and help others. While a celebration, it also sparks conversations about local and national issues and works to prevent injustice while preserving Philando’s legacy.
“Being 10 years, it’s ongoing, to continue keeping his name alive because since then, so many other things have happened with other names in the Twin Cities and across the country and across the world,” he said. “But just a reminder, that happened in our backyard and can continue if we don’t do something about it.”
Central Honors Philando
What: Community event to honor Philando Castile’s legacy and raise scholarship funds in his name
When: 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17
Where: Toni Stone Field, 1221 Marshall Ave., St. Paul
Attractions: Kids’ activities, art projects, ice cream, live performances and messages from Castile’s family and community leaders
