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Drama Ministry Presents Special Christmas Holiday Treat At The Straz
Educator Chosen As 2016 Diversity Wall Of Fame Honoree
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
During the month of Octo- ber, citizens had an opportunity to vote for the Florida State Fair 2016 Diversity Appreciation Wall Of Fame honoree. Each year, Florida State Fair officials select an African American, one Hispanic, and an Asian-Pacific nominee for the honor.
This year, Dr. Walter L. Smith was chosen as the African American honoree. A trailblazer, Dr. Smith has achieved numerous milestones in education on a local, state, na- tional, and international level. He has amassed accomplish- ments ranging from becoming President of his college alma mater, to becoming a published author.
Dr. Smith played a major role in the desegregation process of public education. He was one of the representatives of the U. S. Government chosen to serve as a monitor in the election process of the Republic of South Africa in which Nelson Man- dela became the first Black to serve as president of that coun- try.
Dr. Smith went on to help build the first American-styled community college in the Re-
DR. WALTER SMITH Florida State Fair 2016 Diversity Appreciation Wall Of Fame honoree
DOUGLAS JAMERSON 1947 --- 2001
tional Leadership in 1965 from Florida A & M University. He continued his education at Florida State University, and earned his Doctoral Degree in Higher Education.
In 1977, Dr. Smith was re- cruited and returned to Florida A & M University as its seventh president.
In 2002, Dr. Smith created a library with collectables he amassed during his career, such as books, statues, awards, por- traits, and other artifacts that were either donated or that he purchased.
Other nominees for the African American honor were Dr. Bernard Lafayette, Jr., Ms. Kredelle Petway, the late Justice Leander J. Shaw, Jr., and Attorney Sean Shaw.
Hung Mai and Rafael Bona were the Asian-Pacific nominees. Hung Mai was cho- sen by popular vote.
Ms. Priscilla Clark re- ceived the honor of being chosen for the Hispanic honoree. Paul Alphonso Palacious and Maria Nieves Edmonds were the other two nominees.
Victoriano Manteiga, the founder of La Gaceta newspa- per, was also chosen as a Histor- ical Honoree.
public of South Africa, and serve as its President from 1994-1995. When contacted about his selection, Dr. Smith said, “I am humbled and excited that I was nominated and selected for this honor. But, I am also excited that the late Commissioner of Education, Doug Jamerson, was selected as a Historical
Honoree.”
Dr. Smith said Mr.
Jamerson hosted the first sign- ing of his book, “The Magnifi- cent 12,” at the State Capitol.
A Tampa native, Dr. Smith dropped out of high school at the age of 16 to participate in the Korean War. At age 23, he ob- tained his GED and later re- ceived an Associate’s Degree from Gibbs Junior College. He received his Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree in Educa-
Residents of the Tampa Bay area are in for a special Christmas holiday treat. Sun- day, December 20th. Promptly at 4 p. m., the entire commu- nity is invited to the Ferguson Hall in the Straz Center for the Performing Arts to see “The Fullness of Time.”
The two-act play, written by Sandi Zimmerman Herbert, depicts the birth of Jesus Christ, and is being pre- sented by the Disciples of Vi- sion Drama Ministry at First Baptist Church of College Hill.
A cast of more than 50 ac- tors, dancers, singers and mu- sicians, led by Mrs. Geraldine Kelly, Director of the Drama Ministry, has been working for months to bring this stage production to life. Maurice Jackson, noted singer/songwriter, has written special music for the play and he joins Mrs. Kelly and the cast as the play’s Music Direc- tor.
Mrs. Kelly and Jackson are two of the African-Ameri- can performing artists who
were invited to present pro- ductions at the new Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center (now The Straz) during the center’s inaugural season nearly 30 years ago (1986). One of their past collabora- tions at the center was the production of the Broadway musical, “Bubbling Brown Sugar.”
“Our pastor, Rev. Evan Burrows set the vision for this production with his mis- sion statement for the church – ‘Love the Lord, Grow the Believer and Reach the World’,” said Mrs. Kelly. “The Disciples of Vision Drama Ministry are using our work as an evangelistic tool to touch lives for Jesus Christ, who is the reason for the sea- son. We encourage the com- munity to come out and support our endeavor,” she stated.
Tickets are on sale at the Straz, (813) 229-7827, or visit the website, www.strazcen- ter.org. Or, call Wendell Lowe at (202) 468-7469.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2015 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 11-A