VALDOSTA- The National Council of Negro Women, Inc. (NCNW) Valdosta-Lowndes Metropolitan Section hosted its 4th Annual Bethune Leadership Recognition Banquet on Saturday, October 29th at the James H. Rainwater Center.
Three categories included High School, Collegiate and Community honorees who exhibit the “Bethune State of Mind” in leadership and community impact. Previous winners of the event were High School Past Winners: Brittanye Blake & Faith Emanuel, Collegiate Past Winner: Chelsea Jackson and Community Past Winners: Dr. LaConya McCrae & Lawanna Barron spoke about leadership and what leadership entails.
High School nominees included: Valencia Bryant of St. Paul A.M.E. Church (winner), Drew Elise Parker from the Delta Gems (winner), Marshae Richards from Union Cathedral’s Pearls Girls Mentoring Program, Rae’gan Burton from the Delta Gems, Rochelle Owens from the Delta Gems, Halle Tukes of Brooks County High School and Jonelle Christopher of Team EADIt, Inc. Collegiate Nominees and winners were: Tykevia Williams of the Valdosta State University Section of NCNW and Jada Orr of Valdosta State University Black Student League. Community nominees were: LaToya Crawford of Latoya’s Dance School (Moms), Sara Bell of Love Hurts, Ramada Fuller of Servants of God With Open Arms (winner), Dr. Lana Foster of Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church, Dr. Kelly Gamble of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., Gwendolyn McQueen of Southside Library Boosters, Inc. and Terri Steward of Union Cathedral (winner).
This year the organization presented three community SHE-roes which were County Commissioner, Joyce Evans, Minister Elsie Napier of T.E.A.C.H. Outreach Ministry and Detective Sabrina Smith of Conqueror’s Deliverance Center. The organization wanted to recognize these women for their leadership, impact and commitment to empowering women and their community.
The Bethune Leadership Recognition Program honors outstanding women in Valdosta and surrounding communities who have contributed “untiring” service to this area. NCNW believes this is a great opportunity for each and every organization, churches and schools to honor its members by singling her out to represent them by nomination for this award.
Each nominee was asked to submit an essay stating the “impact she feels she has made on the community through her work in the community”, which were judged.
The National Bethune Recognition Program was established in 1974 by members of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut sections as a way to honor Dr. Dorothy I. Height for her commitment to her community and the organization.
