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June 18, 2001

Dowload photo. Caption: Scholarship Recipients (Left to Right): Tracey Goodner, Angelica Bovelle-Akinyelle, Kalena Johnson, William Richardson, Casaundra Smith and Dawit Abraha

MCBAA Honors Graduates and Scholarship Recipients

Greater Phoenix - The Maricopa Council on Black American Affairs (MCBAA) honored the 2001African-American graduates and scholarship recipients from the Maricopa Community Colleges at its annual convocation and awards program during May at Phoenix College. The ceremonies were opened with the singing of "Lift Every Voice and Sing," the African American National Anthem.

Mistress of Ceremonies Sylvia Manlove announced this year's scholarship recipients who were Tracey Goodner, Phoenix College; Angelica Bovelle-Akinyelle, Phoenix College; Kalena Johnson, South Mountain Community College; William Richardson, Mesa Community College; Casaundra Smith, Glendale Community College and Dawit Aloraha, Phoenix College. Each scholarship recipient received $500.

Other honors given were three citizenship awards. The recipients who received $50 each were Jamaal Wills, GateWay Community College; Evonne Bardwell, Mesa Community College and Esther Agaba, Phoenix College.

Kia T. Patterson from Phoenix College received $1,500 Alpha Kappa Alpha Scholarship.

The Phoenix College Alumni Association also awarded scholarships to Patricia Bedoum, Ester Agaba and Martina Herring.

Other highlights of the evening included the keynote address by Darius Bursh. Bursh, a local attorney, graduated from South Mountain Community College. Bursh challenged his listeners to dream beyond what they may think is possible and to make a commitment to achieving that dream through their hard work and dedication. Isola Jones and Henry Rose treated students and their guests to special music.

New to this year's event was the Silent Auction Scholarship Fundraiser chaired by the husband and wife team, Dr. Rufus and Debra Glasper. The auction featured six sculptures from the Ebony Visions Collection of Thomas Balackshear and three miscellaneous donations. The goal of $1,000 for scholarships was met.

The Maricopa Council on Black American Affairs established in order to promote the aims and objectives of the National Council on Black American Affairs which supports the belief that "education is essential for realizing the fullest potential of each member of our society and that appropriate higher education should be available to all..." The Maricopa Council on Black American Affairs (MCBAA) is a sanctioned organization of the Maricopa Community College District.

The purpose of the MCBAA is to organize and operate for educational purposes as they pertain to African American people; to the enhancement of the African American and other cultures; and to the development of the Nation's total human resources.

MCBAA program emphasis includes, but not be limited to, the following:

A. To identify and meet the diverse educational, developmental and environmental needs of African American students.

B. To promote increased recruitment, retention and achievement of African American students.

C. To enhance the professional development of African American leadership within the Maricopa Community College District.

D. To promote cross-cultural awareness of the Maricopa Community College educational and political environment.

E. To assist in the identifying, hiring and monitoring of highly qualified faculty, administrators and support staff for employment/promotion opportunities.

The Maricopa County Community College District, the largest community college district in the nation, includes 10 colleges - Chandler-Gilbert Community College, Estrella Mountain Community College, GateWay Community College, Glendale Community College, Mesa Community College, Paradise Valley Community College, Phoenix College, Rio Salado College, Scottsdale Community College and South Mountain Community College. The District also includes the Maricopa Skill Center, Estrella Mountain Skill Center, several satellite campuses and business/industry, technical and customized training institutes and serves over 264,000 students annually.

--Maricopa Community Colleges--

The 2001 African American graduates represented all ten of the Maricopa Community Colleges:
Rio Salado College
Elizabeth Bolden
William Chandler
Natalie Ensworth
Anita Ford
Hattie Johnson
Cora Moss
Geneva Reed
Larry Roberson
Stacy Smith
Monique Steward
Scottsdale Community College
Edwina Nyarkoa Aikins
Erica Melissa Branch
Shantra Vinnette Brickhouse
Stephanie D Chitila
Andrea Lynn Groves
Winston T Harrell
John Boyd Newson
Susan Lucky Nsubuga
Essie Virginia Parker
Justine Register
Rochelle Marie Sherman
Gideon Freeman Smith
Jason Terrell Tolton
Latasha Juanita Washington
Chandler Gilbert Community College
Gregory T. Herron
April Vallier
Audrey Jean Delaney
Wilbur Johnson
Sonseeaya Holloway
Paradise Valley Community College
Angela Davis
Stanley Durfield
Mesa Community College
Abu Abdulai
Omobolanle Adigun
Aderonke Akapo
Juliana Akpede
Samuel Alemu
Adrian Allen
Carey Amadi
Amber Beamon
Delshawn Broadus
Cheryl Dixon
Judith Dube
Samuel Eatman
Edna Edwards
Thanh Eubanks
Gail Guyton
Nicole Harris
Jeanette Hendricks
James House vCourtney Hysaw
John Jackson
Jonathan Justice
Osborne Knowles III
James Love, Jr.
LaQucia McCormick
Theresa Miller
Esther Okezie
Kenneth Primus
William Richardson
Michael Ross
Helena Sumbana
Frances Thomas
Zechariah Whimbush
Thelbert Withers
Gateway Community College
Christopher Nchopa Ayafor
Crystal E. Barner
Loretta Lynn Bingham
Danelle Roshawna Brechbiel
Rosalyn Gail Campbell
Angela Louise Davis
Sabrina Monique Davis
Nicole R. DePauw
Tyeshia La Kaye Edwards
Catherine L. Fairley
Kyneekia Michelle Fields
Keyth Edward Fitzgerald
Karen Patrice Gaines
Vola Gary
Walmar Kelish'a Gladney
Kimberly M. Griffin
Wanda Jean Griffith
Arthur B. Haynes
Karen Kaye Henry
Angeline Reshmas Jlay
Connie Johnson
LaToya Deshia Johnson
Sheba N. Jones
Jerry Howard Jordan
Laverne Lynette Jordan
Linette Maisha Mariam Keita
John Lewis Kelley, Jr.
Cherne Nicole King
Nicole Michelle Knight
William L. Lewis, Jr.
Linda A. Lindsey
Lydia Mata
Sabrina L. Mitchell White
Lawrence Thomas Moore
Mary Ann Moore
Tara Newsome
Kathleen Norris
Letitsha Danielle Olade
Olawale Samuel Oshodi Glover
Carissa Renee Partee
Michelle Lorraine Peck
Marcela Perrin
Kenneth Eugene Petties
Tameka Dena Pierce
Justine Register
R. Marie Rice
Ebonie Boyd Riley
Virginia Marie Riley
Shannon Orlando Scott
Ejeta Ergebus Seiffu
Monique Desha Sipple
Ollie M. Smith
Teresa Lucile Stewart
James Earl Stokes, Jr.
Kenneth Roger Thompson
Esther J. Uba
Darren DeJuan Wallace
Patricia Ann West
Roshann Renee White
Cassandra Marie Williams
Regina Marie Williams
Keely Andrea Willis
Shakela Kim Worley
Glendale Community College
Hannah Adu-Tutu
Ivory Anderson
Keisha Kali Anderson
Carmon Gai Ardoin
Marquisha Shawnell Brown Shawnta Denise Butler
Lisa Marie Clearwater
Robbie A. Dawson
Pamela Ellison
Erica E. Ellisor
Alicia Michele Estes
Fenel S. Estime
Adarin Flowers
Uzoma Chukwuemeka Foster
Brandy Yvonne Graham
Bo Han
Christina Ramona Jenkins
Rosemene Jeune
Radford Johnson
Sophie Kerlin
Sharrod Tyrone Kincade
Tamika Roshae Lamb
Lindia C. Lamb
William Mike Lindsey
Anthony Noel Long
Jeffrey Luckett
Krystal P. Mack
Karla R. Mhene
Deryck Miller
Casey T. Miller
James Mitchell
Lamech Muwonge
Gary K. Nichols
Felistus Opio
Erika Nicole Orphe
Derek Leroy Pearson
Maya Sheree Richardson
Roy Allen Rogers
Antoine Jabrell Samuel
Anna Semwayo
Raven Smith
Tanika Dawn Stevenson
Lloyd Michael Supall
Harry Sylvester Taylor
Antonio Lamar Thomas
Timothy Adrian Thompson
KieOnna Keshawn Wadlington
Adrian Tyrone Watson
Waymann D. Westbrooks
Melanie Krystina White
Judyth Ann Wilder
Ellery Marque Johnson Williams
Alvin Wayne Witcher
Priscilla Irene Wright
Erma Yates
Estrella Mountain Community College
Christine Rainey
Gentlebe Dunlap
Oscar Mabry
Daneon Riley
Robert Pope
Cedric Robinson
Dwayne Newman
Joseph Braxton
Relma Voight
Anitria Woodson
La'Peteria Davis
Brandy Glass
Trashanda Gess
Marshall Anako
Jessica Hooks
Russell Ellis
Randy Mathews
Phoenix College
Sheri Atchison
Angela Bronner
Dana Brooks
June Burton
Constance Cobb
Nikkia Dansby
Keyanda Davis
Pamela Davis
Robert Gray
Carolyn Hamp
Danielle Harris
Iyana Harris
Grace Henry
Carliss Holland
Jeff Howard
Kristy Jones
Ceaser Joseph
Darla Judie
Terica King
JoVonne Kirkendoll
Keola McCrary
Tavazier McDonald
Carla Morris
Phillip Nowlin
Winifred Oso
Lorayne Reed
Darisha Spivey
Sherika Warner
Sebon White III
Casaundra Barr
Kahkuyan Brewer
LaDawn Brice
Joshua Gill
Mary Glasco
Elyzabeth Green
Tammie Jackson
Abu Mboka
Vyron Miller
Rhonda Perry
Darrell Roberson
Nikkia Robinson
Michelle Rodriquez
Kghtawnya Wells
Szudia Bragg
Donna Bryant
Jamarei Bryant
Jonathan Haley
Vetina Harris
Mark Marks
Benjamin Sanders
Renee Smith
RoShann White
South Mountain Community College
Artez Copeland
Eric Bursh
Veronica Campbell
Tiffany Clark
Lelton Davis
Shontel Dixon
Phyllis Grimes
Junero Hale
Journay Harding
Carlos Harris
Yolanda Harry
John Johnson
Cynthia Matthews
Mia Nelson
Antar Sabree
David Smith

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March 13, 2002