Page 13 - 5-15-15 Friday's Edition

FLORIDA SENTINEL FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015
Dr. Walter L. Smith Scholarship Established At University Of Florida
The University of Florida College of Education hosted its 13th annual Recognition Dinner on April 24, 2015 to recognize the college’s most generous donors and deserving student award winners.
This year Dr. Walter L. Smith, along with his wife, Barbara, attended the event to meet the re- cipient of the Dr. Walter L. Smith Scholarship. The scholarship was established in honor of Dr. Smith to support graduate level minority students for posi- tions in educational leadership, community college, and university administration.
The 2015 recipient of the Dr. Walter L. Smith Scholarship is Ayola Singh-Kreitz of Miami, FL. Ayola is a doctoral candidate in the higher educa- tion administration program at the UF College of Ed- ucation and expects to complete her doctoral studies in the summer of 2016.
Ayola attended Holy Cross Academy in Miami. In her thank you letter to Dr. Smith, Ayola said, “As a working mother of two young boys, this schol- arship will allow me to better manage the financial
Mrs. Barbara Smith, left, and Dr. Walter L. Smith with the recipient of the 2015 Dr. Walter L. Smith Scholarship, Ayola Singh-Kreitz, center.
burden of the cost of my dissertation credits in my last few semesters at the University.
“As a minority woman in the higher education ad- ministration landscape, these resources allow me to continue on a path where women are trying to break the male dominance of leadership in higher educa- tion.”
Dr. Smith of Tampa has been a State, National and International Leader in developing educational leadership programs. In addition to being Provost of Hillsborough Community College, Dr. Smith has served as President of Roxbury Community College in Boston, MA, and as the 7th President of Florida A&M University, Tallahassee.
Additionally, he is considered by many to be the Architect of the Community College concept in the Republic of South Africa.
“I am more than honored to have this scholarship established in my name to assist minority students pursuing higher level educational leadership de- grees,” Dr. Smith said.
Family Supports
Sit-In Leader Seeks To Have Historical Marker Erected
Sit-In Leader seeks to have historical marker erected at site of 1960 Sit In demonstrations.
Next Step In Life
Of Graduate
It was a leap year and a day of great happenings in Tampa, Florida. On February 29, 1960, a young Clarence Fort, who then was president of the youth NAACP organization, led 50 students from Middleton and Howard W. Blake High Schools to F. W. Woolworth for Sit-Ins to facilitate the integration of Tampa’s lunch counters.
Fort would like for a Historical Marker to be erected at the site of the Sit-Ins in downtown Tampa. He’d like for the marker to highlight the students from both high schools and Gibbs Junior College.
In addition to integration of the lunch counters, the Sit-Ins also served as a spring board to the integration of Tampa’s work force.
Fort would like to identify all students who participated in the Sit-Ins. Anyone having knowl- edge of participants please provide names and school attended by contacting him at 813-267-0348 or via email, fortlaw4@aol.com.
Scenes from the 1960 Sit-In demonstrations at the downtown F. W. Woolworth. If you recognize any of these students, please contact Clarence Fort.
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
It didn’t take Tahwan Keels long to decide where he’d be playing college foot- ball. Most young men want to stay fairly close to home, but Keels decided to accept a football scholarship to attend Missouri Valley College.
Keels, a running back, signed April 7, 2015 and for his parents, Carla and Lloyd, they couldn’t be hap- pier.
“We are so very proud of him. He kept God first in his life and has faith and belief that nothing can stop him.
“Tahwan is counting down the days before he leaves for college, and he says he’s ready.”
With the support of his parents, grandmothers, Joann Brigham and Glo- ria Stephens; sisters, Sherika Byrd, Shayla Keels, Carmi Wright; brother, Levi Wright; uncle Daniel Brigham; aunt, Cassandra Dyous; cousin, Brian Pullings, and girl- friend, Reonna Bradshaw, Keels is assured of being suc- cessful.
“I know this is the begin- ning of his journey in life,” said Carla.
“We’re already putting to- gether schedules to make road trips to Missouri to make sure he knows we’re there for him.”
Keels said he was enter- taining three scholarship of- fers, and although he never really had the chance to tour the Missouri Valley campus, he felt it was the perfect fit for
TAHWAN KEELS
him.
“Contrary to what some
people may believe, I have no problem being that far away from home.
“I think what I’ll miss the most about high school are my teachers and running track. I’ll just be playing foot- ball at Missouri Valley.”
Keels said he’ll have to make decisions now and he’ll have to be more focused and independent.
“I decided to study physi- cal therapy in college, as well as sports management.
“No matter what happens, I will graduate from college, and make sure I have a career regardless of what happens with my football career.”
Senator/Attorney Arthenia Joyner was one of the sit-in demonstrators.
Clarence Fort is second from right in this photo.
A group of the students who participated. Contact Clarence Fort if you can identify anyone in this group.
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