Spring 2016 Volume 10 Issue 2 Scholarship Ball Celebrates

Spring 2016
Volume 10 Issue 2
Scholarship Ball Celebrates Academics and Community Service
The Riverside Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
hosted it s 40th Annual Black and White Scholarship Ball at the
Riverside Convention Center on Saturday, March 5, 2016. The
stately gala raised thousands of dollars in support of academic
scholarships and mentoring programs for local youth.
The evening began with a festive social hour, which included
professional photography and disc jockey services with classic
rhythm and blues music . Welcome and introductory remarks
were made by Polemarch Demarius Carmichael and Vice Polemarch Eric V. Isaac, who acknowledged community leaders and
dignitaries. Those in attendance include Danny Tillman, Member
of the San Bernardino City Unified School District Board of Education, Joanne Gilbert, Community Action Partnership Board Member, Hardy Brown II, Board Member of the San Bernardino County
Superintendent of Schools, Robin McIver Brown, President of the
San Bernardino Valley Chapter of the Links, Inc., Tracy Tillman,
President of the Inland Empire Chapter of Jack and Jill of America,
Inc., and Tammy Martin-Ryles, President of the Black Chamber of
Commerce.
Highlights of the evening include a dance by the Kappa Omicron
Court of Cal Poly Pomona and the announcement of honorees
Dr. Judy White, Superintendent of the Moreno Valley Unified
School District for community service, Theodore Davis, recipient
of the Edward Moore Lifetime Achievement Award, and Kappa
members Larry Clayton and Thomas Fisher for outstanding
achievement.
Angela Clayton, President of the Riverside Alumni Chapter
of the Silhouettes (wives of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity
members) presented two college scholarships in the
amount of $1,000 each to local high school students Cynthia Price and Sierra Smith.
For more information about the Riverside Alumni Chapter
of Kappa Alpha Psi visit www.rackapsi.com.
Dr. Judy White receives the Community Service
Award from Vice Polemarch Eric V. Isaac (left) and
Polemarch Demarius Carmichael (right).
Silhouettes President Angela Clayton and Polemarch Demarius Carmichael present certificates to scholarship award recipients Cynthia Price (left) and Sierra Smith (right).
Symposium Addresses Critical Youth Issues
The Theta Pi Sigma Chapter of Sigma
Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. hosted its
annual Youth Symposium at Rialto Middle School on Saturday, March 12,
2016. The event was both educational
and festive, with breakfast and lunch, a
series of workshops, a live D.J. and a
panel comprised of teen youth leaders.
During his presentation on leadership,
San Bernardino Unified School District
Police Chief Joseph Paulino explained
the importance of reading and being
informed. Public Defender A.C. Jones
emphasized the need for staying calm
and compliant when interacting with
law enforcement.
Other workshop topics included selfesteem development and careers in
Science, Technology, Engineering and
Math (S.T.E.M.)
Student Leader Recognized by Police and Mentoring Organizations
Cajon High School freshman, Yonathan
Habtemariam, was recognized by the San
Bernardino Police Foundation and the
nonprofit organization, On a Mission Inc.
on Monday, March 7, 2016. Yonathan,
who is a member of the Riverside Alumni
Chapter (RAC) of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity’s Guide Right Mentoring program, aspires to have a career in law enforcement.
A check was presented to On a Mission
Inc. by the San Bernardino Police Foundation to support Yonathan’s trip this April
to Washington, D.C. for a tour of the
White House, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, Howard University and other historical sites. Among those present to congratulate Yonathan were (RAC) Kappa Alpha Psi members Joseph Paulino, Samuel
Gibbs and Virgil Owens. To learn more
about On a Mission, Inc. visit www. Joinoam.org.
From left to right—Chief Joseph Paulino, San Bernardino City Unified School District, Dr.
Samuel Gibbs, Omnitrans Executive, Chief Jarrod Burguan, San Bernardino Police,
Yonathan Habtemariam, Guide Right Youth and Virgil Owens, Kappa League Mentor.
San Bernardino Links Honor High Achievers
Pictured above are the recipients of the 2016 San Bernardino Valley Links scholarships. From left to right in the first row —
Erriycka Slaughter, Jameelah Evans, Jazmyn Gray, Audra Gibbs, Destinee Underwood and Taylor Fisher. From left to right in the
second row—Alexander Mattison, Halbert Beaver, Christian Coston, Adetola Soyemi, Ryan Laudermilk, Christopher MendivilWhite and Davion Stephens.
Members of the Inland Empire community
gathered together for breakfast and celebration
on Saturday, May 7, 2016 to recognize the
achievements of local high school students and
legal scholars. The San Bernardino Valley Chapter of the Links, Inc. hosted its 38th Annual
Scholarship Breakfast at the Doubletree Hotel in
Ontario and awarded approximately $23,000 in
scholarships to well deserving high school seniors and two successful law school students.
Over six hundred people were in attendance
for the highly anticipated event, which allowed
parents, friends and educational leaders the opportunity to mix and mingle, while applauding
the accomplishments of local students. Superintendent, Dr. Dale Marsden of the San Bernardino City Unified School District and Dr. Judy
White, Superintendent of the Moreno Valley
Unified School District were both in attendance
to see students from their respective districts receive awards. Christopher Mendivil –White, the
grandson of Dr. White, was among the scholarship recipients.
The Links gave special thanks to the scholarship
fund donors. Among the donors were Drs. Herb
and Cheryl Fisher, the Simpson-Eneas Family, the
Riverside Alumni Chapter of the Kappa Alpha Psi
Fraternity, the law firms of Jackson Lewis and Estelle and Kennedy, Gilbert Holmes Esq. and Joy
Holmes., Mrs. June Collison, Dwayne Thomas,
M.D., Wilmer Amina Carter Foundation, Marc and
Maria Steinorth and Links Linda Jackson and
Kathleen Hall. Tracy Tillman, Chair of the Breakfast Ball Committee, referred to a quote by Marian Wright Eldelman of the Children’s Defense
Fund: “Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world
better than you found it.”
Program Aims to Close Racial Gap in Science
On a recent sun-drenched Saturday morning,
when most teenagers were playing sports, hanging
with friends at the mall or sleeping in, a group of
Inland Empire middle school students sat in a University of California Riverside classroom pondering
the concept of spatial relationships.
Under the tutelage of retired aerospace engineer
Michael Batie, they used graph paper, scissors and
glue sticks to construct 3-D models to help them
visualize how objects relate to each other in space.
They are the first students in the 10-week pilot
University STEM Academy that offers instruction
and mentoring in science, technology, engineering
and mathematics to sixth- through ninth-graders.
The goal is to boost interest in those subjects and
improve academic achievement. The program is
aimed at, but not limited to, African-American students.
“We need this type of program for all kids, but
particularly for black kids,” said Carolyn Murray,
UC Riverside psychology professor and executive
director of the academy.
Batie walked up and down the aisles, stopping
now and then to praise a student’s work or to correct a mistake. In this class mistakes are nothing
to be ashamed about. “I love to see mistakes because that means you are thinking,” Batie said.
One floor up from the classroom, the students’
parents listened closely and took copious notes as
Ann Smith Hickman explained the importance of
familiarizing themselves with their child’s cumulative record, which follows students from elementary school through high school graduation. Parent participation was a requirement for students
to enroll in the academy.
Riverside County Office of Education data shows
that African-American students lag behind their
white and Latino peers in math and science, are
less likely to graduate and more likely to drop out
of school, Murray said.
The academy is the outgrowth of a dialogue by
Inland community activists, educators and clergy
on how to address that racial achievement gap,
Murray said.
The academy was launched in September with seed funding from UCR Chancellor Kim Wilcox and money Murray
raised at a Shrimp and Grits Champagne Brunch. Wilcox
and money Murray raised at a Shrimp and Grits Champagne Brunch. Murray said she originally planned to have
12 boys and 12 girls; however, on the first day, 34 students
came. “We took all of them,” she said.
For more information about the STEM Academy program
call (951) 827-5293.
On Saturday, May 15, 2016 STEM Academy students displayed their
final projects to parents and the community at the science fair.
Eight youth leaders were formally recognized by
the Riverside Alumni Chapter of
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
at Castaway Restaurant in San
Bernardino, CA on Saturday,
May 21, 2016. The Fraternity
hosted an “End of Year Luncheon” , where members of its
youth leadership program, Kappa League, were honored. “Our
Fraternity is comprised of members from a variety of professions,” says Virgil Owens,
League Committee Member. “We mentor the
young men of Kappa League by giving them the
benefit of our professional and life experiences.”
Dr. Eddie Comeaux, PhD was the keynote
speaker. He spoke about the challenges faced by
African-American students who are college
bound but discouraged by what they perceive to
be the lack of racial inclusiveness on university
campuses.
Other event highlights include a donation by
the members of the San Bernardino –Riverside
Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority
to the Kappa League, reflections from Kappa
League participants and parents, award presentations to League Committee members, volunteers and program graduates, and acknowledgement of sponsors, including Coca Cola, Wells Fargo, Monster Energy Drink, John W. North High
School and Union Bank.
The Kappa League program covers five phases
of educational, occupational and social development: 1) self Identity, 2) training in the areas of
academics and career preparation, 3) competition in sports, career advancement and politics,
4) social endeavors, which include religion, the
arts, communication and etiquette, and 5) health
education.
The 2015-2016 Kappa League graduates are
Matthew Ryan Isaac, Agyei Butler, Jeremiah Evans, Blake Gilmore, Yonathan Habtemariam,
Joshua Hudson and Stanun Rudley, and Timothy
Bolden.
Male students in grades 9 through 12, with a
minimum grade point average of 2.5 may be eligible for Kappa League. For more information
contact Zack Stewart at [email protected].