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50 Men & Women: Honoring High School Scholars Year After
Year
By Faith A. McGlown
Sojourner’s Truth Reporter
Rapidly increasing tuition costs and dwindling state and
federal funding are specific barriers that block young,
talented minds from attending college. Many deserving
minority students who hope to attend college may never have
the opportunity.
At least one organization has committed itself to helping as
many minority students as possible attend college. 50 Men &
Women of Toledo, Inc. awards scholarships to help offset the
staggering costs of college. They have awarded over 200
primarily four-year renewable scholarships totaling over one
million dollars to Toledo area minority youth.
On Friday, June 13, 50 Men & Women of Toledo, Inc. held its
28th Annual Scholarship Banquet & Dinner in the
Great Hall of the Stranahan Complex honoring minority
students.
They awarded $100,000 in scholarships to deserving students
in recognition of their academic achievements and desire to
attend college. This special evening was filled with
appreciation and encouragement.
The organization’s president and founding member, James C.
Caldwell, has been instrumental in empowering many minority
youth to recognize the necessity of self reliance, economic
empowerment, and contributing back to their community.
Caldwell eloquently served as the evening’s master of
ceremonies. The invocation by Rev. John E. Roberts, Pastor
of Indiana Avenue Baptist Church was followed by the welcome
from Billie S. Johnson, executive director for the Area
Office on Aging.
The speaker for the evening, Honorable Charles J. Doneghy,
was graciously introduced by Walter Crockel, Jr. After some
humor, Doneghy, judge in the Lucas County Court of Common
Pleas, addressed the 20 scholarship recipients and the rest
of his audience about the seriousness of the evening.
Doneghy, a Toledo native, urged the honorees to be
“wholesomely dissatisfied” with the state of society.
Education should be the catalyst, said the judge, who earned
both his doctor of jurisprudence and bachelors degree of
Business administration from The University of Toledo.
Teachers who are satisfied with their teaching will never
teach better, Doneghy said to illustrate his point. “With
satisfaction, people become stagnant. Nothing is worse than
satisfaction.”
Doneghy has been on the Common Pleas Court since 1984. Prior
to that, he served as a Toledo Municipal Court Judge.
Doneghy served in U.S. Army as a captain from 1966-1968.
“Sacrifice and toil has borne good fruit,” Doneghy remarked,
referring the young scholars in audience.
After an elegant dinner and conversation, Bobby Rogers,
Scholarship Committee, introduced the recipients of the
evening’s awards. Ten young scholars received the 50 Men &
Women of Toledo, Inc. Scholarship, which is a four-year,
renewable $1,500 award and requires a 3.0 GPA or higher.
The 50 Men & Women of Toledo, Inc. scholarship recipients
were: Francesca Adams (Start), Marcus Boyd (Central
Catholic), Sura Khuder (Maumee), Gabrielle Lopez (Whitmer),
Aleila McCulloch (Rogers), Jasmine Levesque-Neal (Central
Catholic), Nicole Price (St. Ursula), Teresa Sanchez
(Start), Debralyn Woodberry-Shaw (Central Catholic), and
Nicolyn Woodcock (Central Catholic).
The Kevin Chad Ellis Scholarship is dedicated to the memory
of Kevin Chad Ellis and requires a 2.5 GPA or higher. It was
granted to Alma Aguirre (Rossford), who carried a 3.40 grade
point average. She plans to attend UT as a pre-med major.
The James C. Caldwell Scholarships were awarded to
Christopher Greenwade (Rogers), Ashley Strickland (Toledo
School of Arts), Ashley Wilbert (Notre Dame), and Kristin
Witcher (Start).
Wilbert, who plans to become a pediatrician, challenged the
young scholars to be leaders and allow God to work through
them.
“I want to help children similar to me,” she said referring
to her own medical condition that limited her activities.
“One by one help children.”
The James B. Simmons, Jr. Memorial Scholarship was given to
Christian Stewart (Toledo Christian). The $1,500 scholarship
is renewable for four years and requires a 3.0 GPA or
higher.
Stewart plans to attend Kent State University and study
Journalism/Broadcasting.
Justin Barrientos (Bowsher) received the John A. Anderson
Memorial Scholarship. The renewable, $1,000 award is
provided to the often-forgotten average high school
achiever, requiring a 2.3 GPA for consideration. It is
restricted to UT and will be fully matched by the
university.
Vanessa Elmore (Start), Kayla Lindsey (Start), and TaTiana
Sanders (Notre Dame) were awarded the Owens-Illinois
Scholarship, which emphasizes science, math, business and
engineering. The $3,000 award is renewable for four years
and requires a 3.0 GPA or higher.
Elmore, who plans to attend Bowling Green State University,
said she was the first generation in her family to attend
college. She will also receive $1,500 in matching funds from
BGSU.
“College is the ultimate goal, but not everyone makes it,”
Elmore remarked as she addressed the audience. “It is a true
honor.”
The tables were dressed with beautiful blue and silver
balloon bouquets and “college survival kits,” which
contained all the necessities for the new college students.
During his closing remarks, Caldwell, the first
African-American corporate executive for a local Fortune 500
company, implored the young scholars to remember the bridge
that brought them over after they have achieved success.
He recognized the many corporate and private sponsors’
support that has enabled 50 Men & Women of Toledo, Inc. to
grow from initially awarding three, four-year renewable
scholarships to over 20 per year today, such as The
Anderson’s, The General Mills Foundation, The Sears
Foundation, UT and BGSU.
“A lot of hard work goes into giving you kids the money.”
Caldwell, who was the prime inspiration for forming the
group, commented. “If you make it, reach down and help
somebody else.”
Before Reverend Wilbur Harris, Pastor of Faithway Church of
God and Christ, performed the benediction, Caldwell
remarked, “It’s not going to be easy, nobody said it would
be easy.”
He offered some final and crucial parting words to the new
graduates.
“We will cut off the funds,” he said referring to those who
don’t maintain good academic standing in college. “Every
once in a while, we have to make a believer.”
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