Martin Luther King banquet recognizes young talent
by January 17, 2011 7:25 am 208 views
story and photos by Ruby Dean
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More than 400 attended the silver anniversary (25th annual) Martin Luther King Awards and Scholarship Banquet in Fort Smith, during which approximately $25,000 in scholarships were awarded.
The event, held Jan. 15, was moved to the Stubblefield Center at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. Last year, UAFS Chancellor Dr. Paul Beran said the banquet had outgrown once again the location of the event and had to be moved from the Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center to the Stubblefield Center.
A previous winner of the scholarships awarded at the event is Alyse Eady, who was raised in Fort Smith and, as Miss Arkansas, was the first runner up in the Miss America Pageant also held Jan. 15.
Karen James said that based on previous winners, she has no doubt those awarded tonight will make the most of their education.
“Some of the previous winners have really obtained great success in life,” James said.
Jasmine Spears, one of the recipients, said “her scholarship is paying all her tuition and otherwise she wouldn’t be able to attend college.”
U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., who spoke during the event, said “this is really about the kids and the accomplishments they had made.”
The keynote speaker for the event, DuShun Scarbrough, executive director of the Arkansas Martin Luther King Jr. Commission, talked about leaders.
“Leaders are visionaries with poorly developed sense of fear and no concept of odds against them,” Scarbrough noted.
Applicants for scholarships send in an application along with an essay. Winners are based upon grade point average, community service and the essay. Thomas James a member of the committee said “it was a very hard decision to chose winners because students had excellent grades, excellent community service, and were very deserving.”
Other scholarships given out at the banquet were Pepsi Cola Bottling Company, McGill Brothers Scholarship, Lincoln High School Alumni Association, P.H.A. Masonic Family AR Jurisdiction Scholarship, Gary & Virginia Hinkle Shining Star Scholarship, University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, Lawrence Tidwell Scholarship, and Janis Rogers Living Legacy Scholarship (Delta Sigma Theta Sorority).
LIST OF RECIPIENTS:
• Pepsi Cola Bottling Company: Rossy Rivas and Curtis Adams, III
• McGill Brothers Scholarship: Channelle Turner
• Lincoln High School Alumni Scholarship: DiNesha Harris, Denay Burris, Ray Keaton, Jr, Channelle Turner, and Jade Novak
• P.H.A. Masonic Family Arkansas Jurisdiction Scholarship: DiNesha Harris
• Lawrence Tidwell Scholarship: Demiko Shade and Tanisha Johnson
• Janis Rogers Living Legacy Scholarship (Delta Sigma Theta Sorority): DiNesha Harris
• University of Arkansas at Fort Smith: Monica Jordan
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship: Jasmine Spears, Dominic “Taylor” Phoumivong, Stephanie Sharum, Jason Forte, and Rossy Rivas
• Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Scholarship: LaKendra Mallett and Courntey Holmes
• Gary L. & Virgina Hinkle Shining Star Scholarship: Jasmine Spears
• Golden Hands Awards: Jannia Green
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Recognition Awards: George McGill and John Crocker
