Our Lady Of Consolation School Provides Educational Choicer By Audrey C. Lodato Post Staff Writer A family educational tradition, Our Lady of Con solation School has been serving Charlotte’s black community for 27 years. Although the school on Statesville Avenue is part of a Catholic parish, 80 percent of its student body is not Catholic. Many of the students’ parents also at tended the school. According to Father Wil bur N. Thomas, pastor of Our Lady Of Consolation Church, one of the missions of the school is to provide the total community with some educational choices that include a Christian value system. “We feel we have a gift to offer the -community," Father Thomas explained. He went on to say that the school is characterized by “intense caring on the part of the teaching staff for the students." Dr. Jewitt Walker, pre sident of the Home School Association, is an AME Zion minister. His eighth grade son has attended Our Lady of Consolation since fourth grade. “I’d hate to see the school close after 27 years,” Dr. Walker com mented. “It has provided a quality education and gi ven much to the commun ity. Dr Walkerexplaineck that he chose Our Lady of Consolation for his son be cause he wanted the “best kind of discipline and curriculum,” as well as a religious education. I don't think the reli gious differences have in terfered'with his growth,” Dr. Walker continued. —■They haven’t tried to pro selytize him.” TTiis year, the school has had a student enrollment of 216 in pre-school (ages Each night last week. Rev. Marvin Yancey shared the Word of Ged at the Ebeaeser Baptist Church Revival, 733 E. Trade 8t. In addition to hi* minis terial talents, God has also granted him (he talent to compose music and perform uplifting spirituals. Workshopo led by Rev. Yancey began each evening at 5:3d. Rev. A. B. Sutton was boot pastor. (Photo By Calvin Ferguson of Cal-Du Photography) SUPPORT Our Advertisers 'Johnson C. Smith Ihlwnlty 117th Annual Commencement May 20,1984 HEADQUARTERS: Adam’s Mark Hotel (Formerly The Sheraton Center) 555 South McDowell Street Charlotte, N.C. 28204 -SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES Saturday, May 19,1984 9a.m.-10a.m. Alumni Registration, Ed. Bldg. 9:30 a.m.-10 a.m. Coffee with Uni. President, Ed. Bldg. 10 a.m. Classes Reunion Meeting, Ed. Bldg. 11:15a.m. Class Pictures 12:30p.m. Gen. Alumni Luncheon, Stdnt. Union 2p.m., Gen. Alumni Meeting, Stdnt. Union, B&C 6 p.m. Annual Alumni Banquet, Stdnt. Union, (Faculty, Staff, Graduating Seniors and Parents are Invited) 9 p.m.-I a.m. Annual Reunion Dance, McDonald’s Caf. Sunday, May 20,1984 10a.m. Worship Svc., University Church Speaker: Rev. W. F. McIntosh, Jr. Pastor, Green St Pres. Church, USA Morganton, N.C. 11:30 am President’s Brunch, President’s Home • (For Golden and Silver Anniversary Classes in Reunion) 2 p.m. Commencement, Ovens Auditorium Speaker: A. L. Higginbotham, Jr. Circuit Judge U.S. State Court of Appeals, 3rd Circuit Philadelphia, Pa. three-four) through eighth grade. Class size averages 17-18 children. The school stresses "basic acade mics/’ said Father Thomas, and students do well on standardized tests. The school was started In 1957 by the Oblate Sisters of Providence, an order of black sisters based in Mary land. The order has con tinued' to staff the school until the present. Next year, however,—that will change. “We’re at a point where this school will be more in the hands of the parish board of education, and not so much depen dent on the Sisters," said Father Thomas. “We’re moving more toward local control.” Consequently, a search -■eommiUee has been formed to find a new prin cipal, a position which has always been filled by one of the Sisters. According to Father Thomas, the new principal could be "any certified Roman Catholic who shares our convic tions." The school is primarily supported by tuition fees. Tuition is due monthly. At some point in the future, financial aid may be avail able for those who are un able to afford the tuition. “We really see a need for financial h«p,” admitted Father Thomas, “and we’re working on it.” --—* —■ ' ,L> King Cobra Premium Malt Liquor sets the standard for matt ffquor sgtfatetftm. naturally wtth the finest Ingredients available, Irt got the taste you've been thirsting for. With the smoothest bite you've ever experienced in a mah liquor, in 12,16, 32 and 40 oz. sizes. King Cobra Premium Mah Liquor. More than a mah liquor, a statement of quality about the people who make it and drink it. -king COBRA PREMIUM MALT LIQUOR In an address at the 117th commence ment at Barber-Scotia College, Patricia A. Russell, attorney-at-law and public speaker from San Antonio, Texas, congratulated the class of 1M4 for "having held on ami held out tn a time when we don’t knovi what condition our condition Is In." Russell noted, that.a large number of blacks who graduate from predominantly black Institutions ' are the first In their families to re ceive a college degree. She challenged the graduate* to go forward aa positive examples as to why predominantly black colleges should survive. “You are standing on somebody else’* shoulders,” said Russell to the class of M. "Some body In your family had to step back, so that you could step forward. Yes, another __on_e of u* has crossed the finish line. But you must rise and give testament to our story. You must make the difference. And you must tell the world that we, will keep coming.” SCLC Sets Hearings Continued From Page 1A George Metcalf, assistant business manager at Pres byterian Hospital ex plained there «re a lot of circumstances ,on which admission is based. “We never turn down an emer gency need,” he presented. : Metcalf continued, “If a patient needs surgery, and isn’t insured, we will es timate the cost, and usually require a percentage of the money as a deposit. Some times if it’s something like a hernia problem, we will ask the patient to wait a couple of days until he or she can make financial arrangements,” Metcalf asserted. ‘‘We have to do this because we get so many people who won’t pay their, hills,” he noted. Prior to Tuesday’s hear ings, a mass meeting will be held Monday night at 7 o’clock in University Park Baptist Church. Rev. Lowery will be the keynote speaker. Rev. Cleophus Robinson will also attend.. Performers will be John Key and the Key Singers. Dropouts Cause Special Ptobtem*:; In today’s Job market, - finding employment is as difficult tor the college graduate as it is for the high school drop-out. The high school drop out presents a special problem being both un trained and without a _ diploma. The Char lotto-Mecklen burg Youth Council and the City of Charlotte’s Employ ment and Training Depart ment is working to gether to combat this pro "tSlfiHT-— Presently, they are re-' crulting high school drop outs for selection and par-i ticipation in the Education For Employment-Limited Work Experience Pro* gram. Individuals chosen to ‘ participate in this program will have the oppor tunity to complete high school, obtain part-time . employment counseling, ~gnd job placement assist- ■ ance. In order to qualify for this program, an applicant must be between the agee of lft-21, residents of Char lotte and Mecklenburg County, highly motivated and meet income guide lines. Anyone interested can call the Youth Council at SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS 334-3036 or the City of Char lotte Employment and Training Department at ; 374-3101 for an interview and more information. The dosing date for ap plications is May 30. j