Page 8 - Florida Sentinel 1-31-17

Local
Gibbs Alumni To Host Meeting In Tampa To Discuss Anniversary Plans
Siblings Celebrate Their January Birthdays
Nancy Moetta-Closs hosted a birthday celebration for 3 siblings – the Comers — at her home in Brandon. The siblings celebrated their birthdays on January 18, 19, 20th. (Photos by Julia Jackson)
Rolanda Comers, Terri Comers and Donnell Comers cele- brated their birthdays at a party hosted by Nancy Moetta- Closs.
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Members of the Gibbs Junior College Alumni Asso- ciation will host a meeting in Tampa. It will take place on Saturday, February 4th, 11 a.m., at the Dr. Walter Smith Library, 909 North Albany Avenue.
The purpose of the meet- ing is to discuss strategic planning for their upcoming celebration of the school’s 60th Anniversary. The cele- bration will take place at the Innisbrook Resort in Tarpon Springs. The celebration will be held during the Memorial Day Weekend on May 27th.
“Hopefully, Gibbs Junior College graduates in the area will attend the February meeting and contribute to the planning of the 60th Anniver- sary Celebration,” Dr. Wal- ter Smith said.
Gibbs Junior College came into existence to educate African American students in 1957 during the segregation era. Established as a junior
DR. WALTER L. SMITH
college that provided sepa- rate education, the facility was part of the Pinellas County Public School District and shared a campus with Gibbs High School.
The facility educated stu- dents from Pinellas, Hillsbor- ough, Pasco, Hernando, and Manatee Counties. After nearly a decade, it was merged with St. Petersburg College.
The school’s alumni in- clude several professionals who continued their educa- tion to become doctors, attor- neys, educators, athletes,
musicians, and diplomats among its graduates.
Following the merger, the main campus of St. Peters- burg College was named the Gibbs Campus.
Dr. Smith further said the Alumni Association was created under the leadership of President Bill McCloud and the cooperation of a number of graduates from the school.
“Gibbs graduates have continued to carry out the philosophy of the original in- stitution as it recruits and provides scholarships to young men and women who want to continue their educa- tion beyond high school.
“We have provided schol- arships to more than 75 stu- dents who are continuing their education,” Dr. Smith said.
For more information about the meeting contact Ms. Josephine Smith at (727) 866-6067; Ms. Bar- bara Norris at (727) 327- 9717, or Dr. Walter Smith at (813) 293-9785.
Nancy Moetta-Closs, host- ess for the birthday party.
Military
Martha Edwards and Lola Graham attended the party.
Airman Completes Basic Military Training
An airman with ties to the Tampa Bay Area recently completed basic training in the U. S. Air Force. She par- ticipated in graduation cere- monies at the Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, in San Antonio, Texas.
Airman Aaliyah C. Bloise completed an inten- sive eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.
As a result of completing basic training, Airman Bloise earned four credits toward an Associate in Ap-
AIRMAN AALIYAH C. BLOISE
plied Science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
Airman Bloise gradu- ated from Tampa Bay Tech- nical High School in 2016.
FYI
Temporary Road Closure For CSX Track Maintenance
A portion of 50th Street from Broadway Avenue to Adamo Drive will be closed at 9 a. m. on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 to repair CSX tracks located just south of 7th Avenue.
The work will be com- pleted by the FDOT mainte- nance crew. It is anticipated that 50th Street will reopen to traffic by 4 p. m. on Feb- ruary 1, 2017, weather per- mitting.
PAGE 8 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2017