Photos by Timothy Ramsey
Ernie Pitt and Bishop Todd L. Fulton pose for a photo with AUyson Kristina
Pannell, one of the scholarship winners, on Thursday, June 30.
Ernie Pitt and Bishop Todd L. Fulton on Thursday, June 30 pose for a photo
with Andrew Denard Cuthrell, a scholarship winner who said he was very happy
to receive his scholarship.
Awards
from page AT
opportunity to go to college otherwise," Fulton said.
"With the scholarships, they are able to go to college and
Awardsget the items they need, such as books and sup
plies." He said that with the scholarships, they are able to
obtain a good footing once they arrive on their respective
campuses.
The service was filled with well wishes to the recent
graduates along with singing from the St. John C.M.E.
Praise & Worship Team. The Rev. Omar L Dykes, pastor
of St. John, delivered an inspirational message to the grad
uates letting them know they are the future.
"As we send these studenst forward to matriculate
their baccalaureate degree, we are sending them out
because they are chosen, but also they are chosen to come
back and give to the community," said Dykes. "It's won
derful, because I was an at-risk youth by having a low
GPA, but I was able to obtain my college degree, so the
blessing for me was that I saw myself in them. It made
me proud to see there are some still taking advantage of
higher education."
The students said they were very grateful for the
scholarships provided by the conference. The winners
were: Alexander Henry Choyce, Ally son Krishna Pannell,
Amber LaRoso Peppers, Andrew Denard Cuthrell,
Chamberlain William Russell, Devin Terry Singleton,
Jeremiah Terrell Gallant, Justin Stephon Walker, Kyndal
Dionne Dodd, Nazjah Nicole McBride and Tatyanna
Smith.
Scholarship award winner Andrew Denard Cuthrell
said, "It's a big accomplishment for me, graduating high
school as a young black male. It's hard for us out here in
society because people put labels on us before they meet
us, so it's definitely a big accomplishment."
Joy Dodd, mother of Kyndal Dionne Dodd, said. "We
are very proud that Kyndal received this scholarship. It
means a lot because her goal is to give back to the com
munity and for the conference to honor her with a schol
arship is great."
Ernie Pitt, publisher emeritus and owner of The
Chronicle, was one of the presenters of the scholarships.
He pledged $5,000 toward next year's scholarship fund.
The MCWSV plans to double the amount of scholarship
money disbursed next year.
MCWSV officials say they are very proud of the
scholarship recipients.
%?mL. ? ? ? ? II II
Photo by Todd Luck
The new citizens take the Oath of Allegiance during the Independence Day Naturalization Ceremony at Old
Salem Museum and Gardens.
Raluca Mironescu holds her Certificate of
Citizenship she got on July 4 at Old Salem Museum
and Gardens.
New Citizens
from page A1
Allegiance, have been tested on their abil
ity to speak, read and write English; then
knowledge of government and to make
sure they have good moral character.
Naturalization ceremonies arc regularly
held year-round by the U.S. Citizenship
and Immigration Services for those who
meet the criteria for citizenship. On July 4
alone, there were , 100 naturalization cere
monies with 7,000 new citizens.
Hagan, a former state and U.S. senator,
said freedom and opportunity are the top
draws for those immigrating to the United
States. Yet, from the founding of the coun
try, those things have been limited by race,
religion, wealth and gender, she said.
"It's equally true that there's been an
uiistoppable trend toward inclusiveness in
America," she said. "A trend that, with the
passage of time, has broken down walls
and doors to allow more and more people
the opportunity to excel and the freedom
to follow their dreams no matter how big
they are."
Hagan said choosing to become a U.S.
citizen is "one of the most patriotic acts
that anyone can perform." But she also
said immigration has become a hot button
issue in this year's elections.
"We are in the midst of an electoral
season in which essential issues, especially
regarding immigration, are being debat
ed," she said. "Who should be allowed to
come into the United States? Who should
be allowed to stay? Should families of
immigrants be broken up?"
Amra Beslagic, a supervisory
Immigrant Services officer, told the new
citizens to enjoy their special day.
Beslagic told them, as a Bosnian refugee
who became a citizen herself, she knew all
the steps it took to get there.
"I welcome you, finally, to your natu
ralization ceremony," said Beslagic. "You
can sit back and relax. There are no more
tests. There are no more interviews."
The new citizens came from countries
all over the world, including Croatia,
China, Mexico, Pakistan, Thailand and
Vietnam. The new citizens can now do
things only UJS. citizens can do, like reg
istering to vote or traveling with a U.S.
passport.
Hasnaa Stinou and her husband,
Abdenazak Mouslim, both became citi
zens together on Monday.
"Wow, I'm very happy!" said Stinou
about becoming a citizen.
The couple came from Morocco five
years ago in search of a better life and said
the immigration process has been a
smooth one. They now reside in
Greensboro and work in packing.
Mouslim said they're hoping to find better
employment. He said he is planning to
take more classes at Guilford Technical
Community College.
Raluca Mironescu, who is from
Romania, came to the United States to be
with her husband after he immigrated. She
resides in Winston-Salem and says she'd
found the states to be "very welcoming."
She works in accounting while her hus
band is in information technology. Both
are recent Forsyth Technical Community
College graduates.
"It's an opportunity for anyone to start
over," she said about coming to the United
States.
Pinto by Timothy Ramsey
Sandra Mcllwain and Ray Ledbetter tell the congregation the history of Men's
and Women's Day.
Correction
The Chronicle apologizes for an error made in The Chronicle on June 30. On page
B5, The Chronicle ran a story with the headline "St. John C.M.E. brings Men's and
Women's days together." With the article was a photo with the wrong cutline. The cor
rect photo and caption are above. The Chronicle regrets any misunderstanding that may
have resulted from this error. The Editor
Changes
from page A1
organization.
"For many of us,
Evelyn's name is synony
mous with leadership, syn
onymous with service, syn
onymous with trust, syn
onymous with virtue.
Evelyn's name is synony
mous with the Urban
League.
"We are quite sad to see
her go." Smith said.
Although her reign as
board chair has come to a
close, Acree noted, she will
always be a part of the
organization.
"You know what they
say," said Acree. "Once an
Urban Leaguer always an
Urban Leaguer."
Other directors whose
terms have expired are
Beaufort Bailey, Ron
Weatherford and Sofia
Porter.
The Chronicle (USPS 067-910) was established by Ernest
H. Pitt and Ndubisi Egemonye in 1974 and is published
every Thursday by Winston-Salem Chronicle Publishing
Co. Inc., 617 N. Liberty Street, Winston-Salem, N.C.
27101. Periodicals postdge paid at Winston-Salem, N.C.
Annual subscription price is $30.72.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:
The Chronicle, P.O. Box 1636
Winston-Salem, NC 27102-1636
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