Page 14 - Florida Sentinel 12-25-15 Edition

Local
National Sorority Offers Scholarship Opportunity
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
The National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc., in col- laboration with its Alpha Omi- cron Chapter, of Tampa, will award a renewable scholarship to a graduating high school senior. The deadline to apply for the scholarship is January 27, 2016.
The scholarship will be awarded to a senior high school student graduating in the fall of 2016. It is valued at $1,500 and is renewable.
“The National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc., is a pro- fessional organization of women who work in a variety of areas in education. Mem- bers of the sisterhood promise to promote programs and ac- tivities for the professional growth of education. One of its roles is to develop the student, encourage him or her to pur- sue their dreams, inspire them, and prepare them to meet the ever-present challenges in an increasingly technology-driven world,” Dr. Sylvia Marion
DR. SYLVIA CARLEY
... Vice President and Scholarship Chairperson
Carley, Scholarship Chairper- son said.
Applicants can be male or female who plan to enter col- lege to become an educator. The applicant must complete the application and submit it by the deadline.
The scholarship will be provided to a student who is an education major. The student must maintain a 2.5 grade point average, for considera-
tion.
The applicant must provide
a professional color photo, (headshot), verifiable financial documentation, evidence of high school clubs, honors, awards, and activities, SAT/ACT test scores, and sealed transcript(s) with Reg- istrar’s seal.
The completed application must be submitted to the local chapter, who will forward it to the national chapter.
A recipient will be chosen among applicants from each of the five regions. The winners must select an accredited col- lege or university.
Anyone wishing to obtain more information about the scholarship or the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc., can contact Dr. Carley, Vice President and Schol- arship Chairperson, alpha Omicron Chapter, Na- tional Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa Sorority, Inc., at 7821 53rd Street, Tampa, FL, 33617; or con- tact her at associates3m@yahoo.com.
Palm River Neighborhood Watch Hosts 1st Cleanup Project
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Recently, the Greater Palm River Westside Neigh- borhood Watch Group held their first community project. The organization decided to host a major cleanup as part of their community improve- ment effort.
The event was held on Saturday, December 12th. Pastors Jose and Area Calderon, of Iglesia Manan- tial Al Sediento, allowed the group to use the church prop- erty as a dropoff point for de- bris.
Ms. Rilla J. Henry, Co- ordinator of the Greater Palm River Westside Neighbor- hood Watch Group said, “This cleanup project was the first on our list of things to do. The project was funded by a mini grant through Hills- borough County Board of County Commissioners, the Office of Neighborhood Rela- tions and the Public Utilities Department.”
Ms. Henry said once they were notified that the area had received the mini grant, Block Captains and members rolled up their sleeves and launched the projects.
The volunteers knocked on doors, passed out flyers, and spread the word about the upcoming cleanup. The neighbors responded and took items they no longer had a use for to the designated drop off location.
“In a matter of five hours, we were able to fill 5 huge roll-off dumpsters with old
RILLA J. HENRY
household appliances, furni- ture, yard debris, and con- struction debris. These were things not allowed as pickup by waste management.
Our future goal is to make this an annual project for our Greater Palm River Westside community, and we solicit the help and support of all our residents in this area.
“We are also asking our residents on the Westside of 78th Street to join our neigh- borhood watch group and help us make our neighbor- hood a better place to live, work, and play,” she said.
Others who played a role in obtaining the grant in- cluded Deputy “Izzy” Viera-Roquemore, of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Officer Judy Wha- ley, Board of County Com- missioners, Commissioner Les Miller, Jr., the Solid Waste Department, Ms. Wanda Sloan, Neighbor- hood Relations Liaison, Hills- borough County, and Ms. Jennifer Boyd, Neighbor- hood Relations Coordinator.
Recovery Efforts In Haiti Slowed By Politics
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
It has been five years since an earthquake destroyed the lives and homes of thousands of Haitian citizens. On the His- paniola Island they share with the Dominican Republic, there have been hundreds of relief efforts, but little is finding its way to the people who need it the most.
This was the observation of Pastor James Duverlus, whose own parents were dev- astated by the disaster.
“The political climate on the island was chaos before the earthquake, so you can just image how much worse it is now.
“A lot of the funds that have poured into Haiti to help the people has found its way into the pockets of swindlers and cheats. With a scattered law enforcement agency, it’s hard to enforce anything.”
Making matters worse, Pastor Duverlus said most Haitians have not been al- lowed to travel to find work to take care of their families.
“The majority of them don’t have the money to get a visa, or have been denied visas for po- litical reasons.
“Although Haiti shares an island with the Dominican Re- public, relationships between the two groups has not always been good.”
Pastor Duverlus said many Haitians have traveled to the Dominican Republic look- ing for work and that’s not al- ways a good thing.
“Haitians in the United States and in Haiti are uniting
PASTOR JAMES DUVERLUS
for a “Night of Prayer.” We hope our voices will be heard by the people who are sincere and want to help. Otherwise, the future of thousands of peo- ple is in doubt.
“What little resources left on the island are being abused or priced so high, the citizens can’t afford it.”
Pastor Duverlus said he and the Haitian people are
thankful for the efforts of American organizations and citizens who have tried to help and have also sent over med- ical personnel.
“Prostitution is still a prob- lem, but for most families they have no choice. It’s either that or starve to death.
Pastor Duverlus said he will continue to take trips to the island and bring whatever relief he can.
“I wish I could bring a lot of the men back with me so they can work and help their fami- lies, but they can’t get visas, and that limits where they can go.
“There are other islands they can travel to, but that takes money, and there is no guarantee they will find work there.”
The Night Of Prayer will be held Sunday, January 10th, and will be observed by Hait- ian churches both here and abroad.
PAGE 2-B FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2015