Page 10 - Florida Sentinel 6-4-21

Local
Gamma Theta Omega Awards Retiree Saw A Community Scholarships Need And Created
Gamma Theta Omega, In- corporated, in Collaboration with Gamma Theta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, announces the awarding of over $20,000 in scholarships to the 2021 graduates of the Tampa Bay Area. The gradu- ating Heritage Scholars, who are children of the members, are also saluted. They are congratulated and wished success in all their future en- deavors.
Gamma Theta Omega Chapter President is Mrs. Elaine H. Bryant and the Scholarship Committee Chairman is Mrs. Carla White Sunday.
Community Scholarship Winners
Jache Bell – Durant High School
Kiana Ellison – Plant High School
Zaria Goldson – Lennard High School
Mariah Hills – Arm- wood High School
Sophia Johnson – Bloomingdale High School
Shanya Luke – Lennard High School
Sidney Martin – Free- dom High School
Camyrn McClendon – Academy of Holy Names
Arie Powell – Armwood High School
Anecia Smith – Bran-
don High School
Heritage Scholars Nailah Barnes – Chan-
dler High School (Arizona) Elijah Blaine – Brooks
DeBartolo High School Isaiah Jackson – Jef-
ferson High School
Angel Lalor – Blake
High School
Janelle Lewis – Blake
High School
Zavian McKinon –
Land O’ Lakes High School Raigan Moragne – Jef-
ferson High School
Sania Russell – Queens
College High School (Ba- hamas)
Asha Sneed – Academy of Holy Names
An Academy Of Hope
Billy E. Chatman, Jr.
... CEO And Founder of Natural Bourne Leaders Academy
BY MONIQUE STAMPS Sentinel Staff Writer
After retiring from the Louisville, Kentucky Fire and Rescue Department as a Cap- tain, Bill Chatman and his wife, Nikita decided to get away from the cold and snow. Chatman’s mother’s family is from Tampa and they de- cided to come here looking for warmer weather and to be close to family.
Not one to sit around, Chatman wanted to be of help to the community, and became a school resource of- ficer. His first assignment was at Carver Exceptional School.
At Carver, he saw children in need. Children with ankle bracelets. He noticed that the children lacked mentors in their lives. So he created an academy to make a difference for his kids at Carver and kids across Tampa by founding Natural Bourne Leader- ship Academy.
The name ‘Bourne’ means to “go after your dreams, vi- sions, and aspirations,” ac- cording to Chatman.
He saw that the kids were leaders already, but leaders in a negative sense. Chat- man wanted to give them the
opportunity to be leaders in a positive way.
Chatman says that his goal is to help people change their lives. He wants to leave a legacy of mentorship and guidance for children that need that attention in their lives.
The Academy is designed to cultivate leadership skills in the community, specifically with middle school ages 10- 13, and high school ages 14- 18.
The program changes as different speakers and groups are brought in. Subjects such as the stock market, resumes, building brands, and entre- preneurship are taught.
The summer academy will be at Greco Junior High School on Tuesday evenings. When the school year begins in August, the academy will be expanding into a year- round program.
Chatman plans to expand the academy to statewide, with multiple locations.
Although the academy and school resource officer duties keep him busy, he and his wife spend their time watch- ing movies, relaxing and with their church, Glory to Glory Ministries, led by Bishop Aubrey Shines.
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