NAACP recognizes students
Cassie Tucker is a goal setter. She wanted to become a certified emergency medical technician, and she did. The Geibel Catholic High School graduate was similarly successful when she sought to have her poetry published.
“I’ve always liked to dream,” said Tucker.
In the fall she will begin classes at West Virginia University, where she will begin to work toward achieving her goals of becoming a physician and a member of the U.S. Air Force through the school’s Reserve Officer’s Training Corps program.
Tucker, along with approximately 150 county students, was recognized for her scholastic achievements during a Community Awareness and Recognition Day breakfast hosted Saturday by the Fayette County branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
“We always hear so much about those in trouble, but we have so many more that are doing good things and working hard,” said Andrianne Wilson, program committee member, as she surveyed the hall where more than 300 people had gathered to honor the students.
During the ceremony, held at the Youghiogheny Western Baptist Association center in South Union Township, African-American students in kindergarten through senior high school who had achieved a 3.0 or higher grade-point ranking at their respective school, were presented a certificate of recognition.
Tucker, along with Uniontown High School student Tierra Halfkenny, Connellsville Area High School student Lauren Harris and Albert Gallatin Area High School student Shaniqua Williams, received the Dr. F.L. Vaughns Memorial Scholarship Award to help defray college costs.
Vaughns, a dentist, civic leader and political activist, was also the longtime president of the Brownsville/Uniontown chapter of the NAACP, according to Diane Ridgley, 2nd vice-president of the Fayette County chapter.
Halfkenny said she planned to pursue a business management degree at Penn State University, while Harris anticipated entering the nursing program at the same college. Williams did not attend the ceremony due to another commitment.
Harris said it took a lot of hard work to achieve her goals, but it was worth the sacrifice.
“I proved to myself that I could do it,” she said.
Clinton Anderson, NAACP chapter president, challenged the students to pursue their dreams and the rewards would follow.
“Education brings discipline, motivation and self-worth,” said Anderson. “The children (who received certificates) have worked very hard to get where they are at and, hopefully, one day they will also be a scholarship recipient.”
Keynote speaker, professor Kerry Lee Marbury, Fairmont Community and Technical College program specialist, said his educational path took many twists and turns over the years.
A one-time All-American football running back at West Virginia University, Marbury said he quit school in his junior year to play professional football.
“People encouraged me to play professional football and that’s all I thought about,” he told those gathered. “I put all my eggs in one basket.”
His professional career, however, was short-lived, and he had to return to school.
“You’re not going to get very far without a college degree today,” said Marbury.
He encouraged the students to be diversified when choosing their career paths and to make their selections based on their interests, not on the earnings tied to the job.
“Do something you have a passion for,” he said.
Marbury also challenged the parents to continue in their support effort.
“Our job is to push them to be the best they can,” he said. “The only way they are going to make it is if we encourage them to do something constructive with their lives.”
Also taking part in the program were Eugene Grooms, the Rev. Dewvaul Tracy, Louise Hicks, Cheryl Duncan and the Rev. Louis Ridgley.