6 SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2016 - THE CAROLINA TIMES
(L-R)
Carlos
McCall,
Emiko
Abe,
Cherish
Brown,
Indiria
Everett,
Anne
Elizabeth
Carlstein,
and
Ronald
Peterson
Beta Phi Chapter of Omega
Psi Phi Holds Talent Hunt
Beta Phi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. held its annual Talent Hunt
Program on Feb. 21, at Saint Joseph AME Church.. The program is a classical music
competition for area high school students with categories for vocal, instrumental
and piano. The Talent Hunt Program is one of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. most
noted international public programs. It originated in 1945 and has awarded over
$100,000 dollars in scholarships.
This year’s talent competition was comprised of five area high school students
from Durham and Orange counties.
The first place winner, Anne Elizabeth Carlstein, a student at East Chapel
High School, performed the piano composition, “Fantasie-Impromptu, OP 66” by
Frederic Chopin. The second place winner, Indiria Everett, a student at Durham
School of the Arts, performed the piano composition, “Suite of Three Short Pieces”
by Indiria Everett. The third place winner, Emiko Abe, a Durham School of the
Arts, also performed a piano composition, “Clair de Lune” by Claude Debussy.
All students were presented certificates for their participation by the Beta Phi
Chapter Basileus, Brother Carlos McCall, and the Talent Chairman, Brother Ronald
Peterson. The three winners received plaques and scholarship awards. Anne
Elizabeth Carlstein will represent Beta Phi Chapter, Durham, at the Fraternity’s
Sixth District Annual Meeting Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on April 28, 2016.
She will compete against students from North and South Carolina with the
opportunity to win additional scholarships.
The competition was adjudicated by North Carolina Central University music
professors, Grover Wilson, and Cumberland County Schools Orchestra Teacher,
Rolanda L. Allison.
1 st Place winner Anne Elizabeth Carlstein, and Ronald Peterson.
Business Leaders Applaud
Trans-Pacific Partnership
Business Leaders Trave/to Washington for White House Briefings
WASHINGTON - Ms. Sara Stephens of Durham along with more than 30 business leaders traveled to the White
House from across the country recently to brief senior Administration officials on international trade policy. The se
nior Administration officials included Robert Holleyman, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative.
At the meetings organized by the White House Business Council and Business Forward, the discussion focused on
how international trade policies, particularly the Trans-Pacific Partnership, will affect U.S. businesses.
Following the briefing at the White House, the business leaders met with Rep. Jim Himes (CT-4) and other senior
congressional staff at a reception on Capitol Hill.
“I was privileged today to speak at the Business Forward luncheon about what has been a very interesting and
£ eventful year in international trade. I thank everyone present for coming to Washington to make sure their voices are
heard on issues critical to the success of small businesses across the country,” said Rep. Himes.
The Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade agreement between the United States and 11 other countries in the Asia-
Pacific region, is expected to reduce many of the barriers that smaller businesses face when doing business abroad.
Many business leaders have said that increasing access to international markets would enable them to hire more work
ers to keep up with new demand.
This event was part of a series of Business Forward briefings with White House and congressional officials on
international trade policy. In addition to these meetings in Washington, Business Forward has also organized more
than 50 briefings across the country and more than one dozen conference calls to help business leaders brief senior
Administration officials on international trade policy over the last year.
“The opportunity to be involved in the panel discussion about the Trans-Pacific Partnership was a great way to hear
a full range of views about the impact the agreement would have on our local businesses,” said Sara Stephens, CEO
of Hillsborough/Orange County Chamber of Commerce in Hillsborough.
Ms. Step[hens is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Greg and Brenda Stephens of Durham, and he grandparents are Mrs.
Lucy Wilson and he late Deacon Leroy Wilson of Durham.
MS. SARA STEPHENS
I TALK OF THE TOWN
■ Saint Sya Academy will present Sundiata, the Lion King play at 6:00 pm on June 3, at the Holton
J Career and resource center, 401 North Driver St.
' This year is our 20th anniversary! Each year of our journey as an academy has been both rewarding
* and exemplary. Your continuous support has allowed us to collaborate in educating these children and
‘ honing their exceptional talent. This year we are embarking on bold goals which reflect our vision of the
* African Centered spirit. The Sundiata play will be held on June 3,2016 at the Holton Career and resource
j center, 401 North Driver Street, Durham NC. Tickets are five dollars; you may order corporate, group
* and organization tickets by calling 919-768-7421 or 919-358-8037.
' The purpose of St. Sya Academy Theatrical Productions is to raise much-needed funds to support our
' mission. This year’s play reinforces positive images of African Americans through exploits and deeds
of Sundiata Keita, teaching students to overcome difficulties, demonstrate integrity, excellence, leader
ship, and perseverance. In the past, we have presented other plays such as The Harlem Renaissance, The
Sankofa, Time Machine, and Anansi that taught students African Centered values of self-esteem, integ
rity, leadership and academic excellence. St. Sya Academy is an African Centered Independent Private
School that promotes Self- knowledge through intellectual stimulation and community responsibility.
We are committed to social justice for the worldwide community of tomorrow. We make every effort to
provide a nurturing environment for students of Afrikan descent. For twenty years, St. Sya Academy has
provided a transformative educational experience for children of the African diaspora.
St. Sya Academy is the fruit of an ancestral legacy of Educators in my family which includes my par
ents, William and Sylvia Davis. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill,
“I joined my family to create a method of teaching that stimulated the intellectual development of
African American children. We realized that most curriculum and instruction was not designed to address
their academic, intellectual, and spiritual needs, so we opened St. Sya Academy to fill that void,” said
Daphne “Mama Noni” Davis.
Through your help, we can continue to help our students and school with much-needed supplies such
as computers, online courses, books, and expansion. In the fall of 2017, we will begin our expansion
program. We have included a special section in the ad book to be reserved space for student pages that
highlight their roles in the play. If you do not have a child in the play, you can still sponsor a student. If
you or your company is interested in sponsorship or placing ads in our program booklet please contact
us at 919-768-7421 or email us with your question. The Sundiata play will be held at 6:00pm on June 3,
2016 at the Holton Career and resource center, 401 North Driver Street, Durham NC. Tickets are five dol
lars; you may order corporate, group and organization tickets by calling 919-768-7421 or 919-358-8037.
While we have different sponsorships, we can tailor a sponsorship to suit your donation. Our children are
our future and with your help, we can achieve our goals.
The play will be produced and directed by Daphne “Mama Noni” Davis, executive director of Saint
Sya Academy. For more information visit website at www.stsyaacademy.org.