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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 40th 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 45th 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
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