Page 10 - 3-10-15 Tuesday's Edition

Local
LEAD Student Contest Winners Honored At Recent Reception
Nine LEAD student con- test winners were honored at a reception at the Tampa Mu- seum of Art on Monday, Feb- ruary 16, during a 6 p. m. ceremony.
LEAD (Lead, Empower, Ad- vocate, Dream) is a student contest in celebration of Black History Month. Students in grades 3-12 were challenged to create an artistic interpreta- tion expressing how he or she has been inspired by a local black leader.
The students entered in three arts categories: Litera- ture, Performance, and Visual Arts.
During the reception, Su- perintendent of Schools, MaryEllen Elia, introduced the students and read bios about each of them. The liter- ature students read their essay during the event, while the vi- sual arts pieces were on dis- play. The recording each performing arts winner sub- mitted for judging was also
shown.
Supt. Elia said asking stu-
dents to choose a local African American leader was very im- portant because it allowed them to learn more about their own community.
"The local component of this contest allowed our stu- dents to learn more about in- fluential leaders in our own backyard and celebrate the important contributions of African Americans in Hills- borough County."
The Superintendent also said she was very excited by the response to the contest.
"We had a tremendous re- sponse with more than 1,100 students completing the artist statement and an online entry form."
The nine winners received a variety of prizes, including a $1,500 postsecondary schol- arship, various electronic de- vices including a laptop computer, and tickets to local sporting events.
School Board member Doretha Edgecomb, her daughter, Alli- son, and LEAD Winner, Krystal Majid. Krystal chose Mrs. Edge- comb's late husband, the Honorable Judge George Edgecomb. Mrs. Elia makes the announcement.
Retired Principal, Dr. Mar- garet Fisher (a LEAD Contest judge) and Mrs. Elia.
Dejour London, in front, chose as his inspiration, Pastor Moses Brown, left. They’re shown with School Board Member Doretha Edgecomb and her daughter, Allison Edgecomb, and Bernadette London.
One of the many activities Supt. Elia participated in during the month of February was the LEAD Black History Program. Nine winners were honored at a reception. They are: Dejour London (Lomax Elem.), who was inspired to write about Pastor Moses Brown; Kiana Antoine (Sligh) wrote about her principal, Dr. Dallas Jackson; Juwuan Livingston (Riverview High) wrote about Coach Jamal Guiler; Jo- celyn Lawson (Cahoon Elementary) did a performance. She was inspired by Kandace Nunn Johnson, Director of Kan Dance Studio; Dominique Ernewein (Orange Grove Middle) also did a performance. She was inspired by Police Officer Michael Gambrell; Middleton High student Charity Franks was inspired by Wali Shabazz; Krystal Majid made a Visual Arts presentation to show how she was inspired by the late Judge George Edgecomb; Taylor Johnson (Bailey Elem.) was inspired by a Homeless Hero, CJ; and Donovan Blake (Alonso High) said he was inspired by his father, Donovan Blake, Sr.
PAGE 10 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 2015