Announcements Page 2

DUDLEY HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1964 AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS

Despite the economic downturn, the James B. Dudley High School Class of 1964 pulled together to make substantial scholarship awards to two outstanding 2009 Dudley High School graduates. On May 22, Iesha Bigelow, who will attend the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Jessica Newman who has been accepted at Fayetteville State University in Fayetteville, NC were presented $1000 scholarships at Dudley's Awards Day Ceremony. The awards were presented by Warren Jones, class of '64. Mr. Jones was joined by four other graduates of the class of '64, Odessa Barksdale Long, Gail Lampley Favors, Wilton Bennett and Robert Rambert. It is a testament to the class of '64's love of their Alma Mater and their willingness to give back that kept them moving forward when so many people today are holding their breath and holding on to every penny.

Efforts to organize the Dudley High School Class of 1964 started at the farewell picnic at Barber Park for our 40^th high school reunion when Miltrene Jenkins-Barden of Greensboro said loudly, "we need to get on that Internet like some of the other classes from Dudley." As we departed, donations to the web page were put in the hat and those who had email addresses included them on a list that Miltrene said should go to Toni Clark.

For most of the first year, the email list was used mainly for notification of deceased classmates. To lighten things up, a birthday shout out list was established for those on the email list and at the start of the second year, the Dudley High School Class of '64 website was established (www.dudleyhigh64.com) by Warren Jones, currently of Sanford, and Toni Clark Oliver, currently of Atlanta . They worked together to launch a webpage for the Class of '64. Warren, as it turns out, is never without a suggestion so his next venture was to suggest we establish a scholarship fund.

2009 marks the fifth year since the reunion that planted the seed with the class of '64 to begin using the technology available to us to stay connected. Through those new connections came new ideas. The Scholarship drive is a gleaming example. On Sunday, June 8, 2008 through an elaborate coordination between a volunteer committee comprised of Attorney Marquis Street and Crystal Stroud McCombs of Greensboro, Paula Foster Spaulding of Washington, DC, Warren Jones of Sanford, NC and Toni Clark Oliver of Atlanta and the Charles Sanders Scholarship Fund of Detroit, Michigan, this fundraising effort, in the face of a national economic decline, raised and awarded $2000.00 for scholarships. Charles Sanders, also a member of the Class of '64 was inducted into the National Football League Hall of Fame in 2007.

Little did we know five years ago that Miltrene's suggestion would not only result in a website, but would enable us to reach back and give back to the place where it all began for us. Ironically, five years ago Miltrene didn't have an email address or a computer and only recently has she decided to come into the computer age herself..

There is an African proverb that states, "No matter how far the stream flows, it never forgets its roots." The Dudley High School Class of '64 is living that proverb and will never forget it roots. One of the awardees stated in their application letter the hope to be able to give to a scholarship fund like this one, once out of school and established. The class of '64 has obviously planted a seed and hopes to ensure that the circle remains unbroken.

Special thanks goes to Ms. Felita Newman, Curriculum Facilitator - Science at James B. Dudley High School for being the critical liaison between the Class of '64 and the scholarship applicants and their families.

On August 7-9, the Class of '64 will come together at the Clarion Hotel in Greensboro to celebrate their 45^th class reunion - and given their hard work and dedication to their Alma Mater, this class will really have great things to celebrate.

Written by Toni Clark Oliver

Dudley High School Class of '64