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Features
Hillsborough County Students Win
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Last month, students from throughout the State of Florida were encouraged to participate in the Black His- tory Contest. On Monday, the student and teacher winners were honored by Governor Rick and First Lady Ann Scott at a reception in Talla- hassee.
The Student Essay Award recipients are Robert Joseph “RJ” Simmons, Fishhawk Creek Elementary School, Lithia; Valeria Morfin, Oasis Middle School, Bradenton, and Chyna Lindsay, Tampa Bay Technical High School. Each student received a 4-year scholarship to attend a Florida college or university.
The Student Art Contest winners are Makela Ruiz- Rossi, Hawkes Bluff Ele- mentary School, Southwest Ranches and Madalyn Stewart, Riversink Elemen- tary School, Crawfordville. These two students received a $250 cash prize.
In her essay entitled,
“How Frederick McKin- ley Jones’ Innovation Are Cooling Florida’s Agriculture,” Ms. Chyna A. Lindsay wrote, “... One of the most significant contribu- tions in agriculture, espe- cially in Florida, has been portable refrigeration. Around 1935, the person credited with inventing the first successful system for mobile refrigeration was Frederick Jones, an African American inventor.
CHYNA LINDSAY ...Tampa Bay Technical High School
“... As we go through our daily lives taking for granted many of the conveniences around us, the contributions of Frederick McKinley Jones will forever be a part of the comforts we enjoy, the diverse diets we consume and our healthy way of life.”
Chyna is a senior at Tampa Bay Technical High School. She is a member of the National Honor Society, (4.05 GPA), a 3-year starter on the school’s girls basket- ball team, a starter on the flag football team, and a member of the softball team.
She is very active in her community as a member of the youth choir at First Bap- tist Church Of College Hill, student volunteer at Robles Elementary School, and other places.
Chyna has been accepted at Florida A & M University and aspires to become a pharmacist. She enjoys spending time with her fam- ily and developing skills as a barber.
“I was attracted to this contest because I enjoy writ- ing and the subject chal- lenged me to link an inventor
ROBERT “RJ” SIMMONS ... Fishhawk Creek Elementary School
and his work to a relevant issue or event in Florida,” she said.
Robert Joseph “RJ” Simmons is a 5th grade stu- dent at Fishhawk Creek Ele- mentary School. Robert said, “In June 2012, I was liv- ing with my family in the Kingdom of Bahrain when I was diagnosed with nephritic syndrome. My blood pressure was extremely high, my inter- nal organs were filling with fluid, and I was in danger of going into cardiac arrest or having a stroke. If not for the assistance of a doctor from the United States, I could have died in Bahrain almost three years ago. The doctor responsible for saving my life was a Pediatric Nephrologist.
“Since the summer of 2012, my dream has to be- come a Pediatric Nephrolo- gist and receiving this scholarship would help me realize that dream. ... I be- lieve because of my personal experience I would make an outstanding Pediatric Nephrologist because I will be able to personally relate to what my patients are going through.”
Robert’s essay is enti- tled, “Dr. George Grant’s Invention of the Modern Golf Tee.”
In the essay, he wrote, “African American inventor and innovator Dr. George Grant’s invention of the modern golf tee has had a di- rect and lasting impact on making Florida a great place to live, work, and play.
“... Even though the tee is a supporting element of golf,
it is essential for most golfers to enjoy and do well at the game. On December 12, 1899, Grant received U. S. Patent No. 638,920 for an improved golf tee, an invention that would have a great impact on golf and the economy of Florida.”
Three teachers, nomi- nated by students and peers, were chosen as the recipients of the “Excellence in Educa- tion” award.
Statewide Black History Contest
Celebration Scheduled For Launching Of New Black Chamber Of Commerce
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
On Thursday, February 26th, a celebration will be held for the launching of the new Tampa-St. Petersburg Re- gional Black Chamber of Com- merce, Incorporated.
The celebration will be held at the Entrepreneur Col- laborative Center, 2101 East Palm Avenue from 6 p. m. until 8 p. m.
Dr. Carolyn Ford, Chair of the Florida Black Chamber of Commerce and Executive Director of the North Florida Education Development Cor- poration, will also serve as Chair for the new Chamber.
Dr. Ford said their mis- sion is to promote tourism and cultural economics re- lated to economic develop- ment, with emphasis on access to capital, financial lit- eracy, and effective network- ing techniques within historically black and other minority business communi- ties.
“In November of last year, a group of people met to dis- cuss this venture.
“African Americans own about 9% of the businesses in Hillsborough County, and we want to see that number more than triple. We’ve got to send out the message that small businesses are the life blood of a community.”
Dr. Ford said events like the Republican National Con- vention, the Indian Movie Awards Show and other big ticket ventures have come to Tampa, and Black-owned businesses got no part of that revenue.
“Tampa is the gateway to the entire state, and there’s no reason Black-owned busi- nesses shouldn’t be allowed to take advantage of that.”
Dr. Ford said Urban Re- newal wiped out a lot of Black- owned businesses during the
DR. CAROLYN FORD
mid-1960s.
“Our purpose is to look at
the culture and other dynam- ics of the Black community. We’re going to help those small businesses by marketing them better.
“When Black people come to Tampa from out of state, they want to know where the best soul food restaurants are. We also want to open better access to capital, and we’ve al- ready secured funds to pro- vide non-collateral loans. All that’s needed is at least a 620 credit rating.”
Dr. Ford said that’s how wealth is accumulated, and that’s how communities are stabilized. She also said small businesses get a lot of tax breaks, many they don’t even know about.
“We’re going to offer finan- cial literacy training so people will know how to better man- age their money.
Dr. Ford said now is the time to reverse a trend that’s been going on for decades when it comes to economic control in Black communities.
“One thing we know about Black people is we are natural survivors. That’s a lesson we’ve failed to pass on to the young people. We are very strong and determined peo- ple, and now it’s time we em- brace the rich culture that truly defines who we are.
Businessman Jarvis El- Amin has joined the staff as the Marketing and Outreach Coordinator, and he’s also a founding board member.
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