Page 5 - November Newsletter
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sisterhood. She concluded her juniors and seniors: “Aim high, prepare
acceptance speech by reading a poem well, and don't let anyone tell you
she had written for written for her 20th can't.”
reunion 22 years ago. The words are
still as poignant and just as applicable Jill Scott (1990), was unable to attend
to an audience 40+ years her junior. the ceremony, so her award was
accepted by her classmates Keisha
Celeste Johnson, sister of Carol Y. Chandler (1990), a member of the
Johnson (June 1958), accepted on her Alumnae Association Board of Directors,
behalf. As an activist, Carol Johnson and Azeb Kinder (1990) on her behalf.
acknowledged the first peoples of this Keisha read a statement prepared by
nation: the Native Americans who were Ms. Scott in which she exhorted our
custodians of this land before the girls to develop their talents. She
Europeans who arrived and the Africans acknowledged that every individual has
who cultivated this land through non- her own power and urged them to take
voluntary labor. She thanked Girls’ High the time to discern their power.
for the tools and skills of critical
thinking. Marietta Simpson (1976) shared that
she too was a member of the
Two Distinguished Daughters were “underachievers club.” During her time
presented awards posthumously. at Girls’ High, she spent much of her
Pauline Oberdorfer Minor, a 1910 time in the music room under the
graduate, was a founder of Delta Sigma tutelage of Mr. Kauriga and Mr. Murphy.
Theta Sorority, Inc. Dr. Monica Johnson She thanked Ms. Sandi Johnson for
Taylor (220), President of the being an incredible role model. She
Philadelphia Alumnae Chapter of Delta acknowledged members of Delta Sigma
Sigma Theta, Inc. accepted the award Theta, of which she is a member, for
on her behalf and on behalf on the the support they showed following the
300,000 members of Delta Sigma death of her sister—who was also a
Theta. Dr. Geraldine Myles, former Soror. Her message for the girls was
Principal and member of Delta Sigma that everyone's gift is different, and that
Theta, donated the research she gift is to be used to bless others. She
conducted about Pauline Oberdorfer concluded by singing This Little Light of
Minor to the Philadelphia High School for Mine in her beautiful mezzo soprano.
Girls.
In Dr. Moore’s closing remarks, she
Dave Hatch, co-worker and National reminded the young faces in the
Security Agency historian, shared that audience that “each one of you sitting in
Minnie McNeal Kenny (January 1946) the audience will one day be us. Each
was responsible for creating innovative one of you has a light that you must let
classes for NSA staff and creating policy shine. Don't ever be your own
that added to national security. Many barrier.” The ceremony ended with
times, Mrs. Kenny was simultaneously students, alum, and faculty all signing
the only African-American and only our beautiful school song.
woman in her field and certainly in her Congratulations to these accomplished
department. Her grandson, Carl women and role models.
Jackson, shared his grandmother’s
favorite message to the audience of rapt
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