Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 10-9-15 Edition

Features
‘Perry Mason’ Inspired Woman To Become An Attorney
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
Growing up in Nigeria,
Fehintola Kemi Oguntebi
watched “Perry Mason” on television. She quickly no- ticed that he rarely lost a case, and decided that’s what she wanted to pursue as a career.
Atty. F. Kemi Ogun- tebi has been practicing law for 20 years, and said she did- n’t pursue a law degree at first.
“I studied history and archeology and I worked for a ministry for a number of years in Nigeria.
“When I left Nigeria in 1978 and came to the United States, I knew I needed a job and I earned a Master’s De- gree in Education. That was fine, but I didn’t want to teach.”
That’s when Atty. Ogun- tebi decided to enroll into law school at the University of Florida, and looking back, she said it was a good deci- sion.
“As an attorney, I’ve had a case where I partnered with another attorney, and we won a case against K-Mart.”
Atty. Oguntebi occupied an office on Armenia Avenue for 18 years, sharing the space with Atty. Kaydell
ATTY.
F. KEMI OGUNTEBI
Wright-Douglas.
“I outgrew that location, and moved to my new office on Cass Street. Here, there’s a lot less chaos, and I have more room. The only prob- lem is parking.”
Atty. Oguntebi said she can’t see herself doing any- thing but practicing law, and plans to continue at least for the next few years.
“I know I’ll retire one day, but I’m not ready yet.
“My family still lives in Nigeria and I visit them at least once a year. They also come and visit me.”
She is married to oral sur- geon, Dr. Duro R. Ogun- tebi, and the couple has three children.
Atty. Oguntebi’s new lo- cation is 1904 West Cass Street.
Student Achieves Goal Of Becoming Eagle Scout
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Earlier this week, a Tampa student accomplished yet an- other goal he set for himself. He officially achieved his goal of becoming an Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts of Amer- ica, Troop 142 in less than two years.
N’Jhari Jackson was presented his Eagle Scout Badge on Monday night. The presentation took place at St. James United Methodist Church.
His mother, Ms. LaShina Lewis-Jackson said, “He is excited about winning. He be- came a Boy Scout in March 2013. In order to become an Eagle Scout, he had to earn 122 of 136 badges. He plans to earn the others as well.”
In order to earn the badge, N’Jhari was required to com- plete a major project. He de- cided on obtaining an AED (Automated External Defibril- lator) and university grade First Aid Kit for his school.
Entitled “NJ’s Love To The Rescue” Eagle Scout Project, N’Jhari raised more than $2,000 to purchase the piece of equipment for his school.
Then he realized that al-
N’JHARI JACKSON Presented Eagle Scout Badge On October 5th
though the equipment was on the premises, it was virtually useless unless the teachers and staff knew how to use it.
N’Jhari visited 6 other schools in the New Tampa area where he lives and learned that the equipment was on the campuses as re- quired by the school district. However, those teachers also lacked training.
His mother said N’Jhari learned that although the equipment is required on the campus, the district does not require training for the teach- ers.
The enterprising young man then set about helping to get the teachers and staff training at his school. He was successful in obtaining a 4- hour training course for all of the teachers and staff. Now, they are all CPR certified. Since he raised more money than was needed, the extra funding is earmarked for health and fitness equipment for his school.
N’Jhari is an 8th grade honor student at Paideia School of Tampa Bay. His goal is to finish high school early, so the young man, who is als0 a member of Men of Vision, is taking online high school classes as well.
In addition to his other ac- tivities, N’Jhari recently made the Junior Olympic tri- als in swimming.
N’Jhari is no stranger to news and has been active in many areas. The young man has years of experience giving back to the community al- though he is only 13. He launched his own organiza- tion, the Pajama Buddy Voy- age, several years ago. He provides stuffed animals to hospitalized children.
Last October, N’Jhari was selected as the recipient of a 4- year scholarship during His- panic History Month. N’Jhari won the scholarship as a mid- dle school student for an essay he submitted in the statewide contest.
In February, he was one of two Florida students chosen as recipients of the “Prudential Spirit of Community” Award.
In May, he was chosen as one of four students to partici- pate in the Arlington Cemetery Wreath Laying Ceremony.
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