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Henderson's BSU Holds Annual Scholarship Banquet
Henderson's BSU Holds Annual Scholarship Banquet
Henderson High School's Black Student Union
Henderson High School’s Black Student Union (BSU) recently coordinated its 32nd Annual Scholarship Banquet, bringing the community together to celebrate students and recognize staff for their hard work and dedication to success.
Dozens of Henderson High School students, staff, alumni, and community members attended the banquet, which was held February 27 and featured the theme “Together We Can Make a Difference.” The annual event is open to the public and held during the last weekend in February as part of Black History Month. Proceeds from the event support cultural activities as well as academic scholarships for Henderson High School students.
Following welcoming remarks from Kadijah Smith, president of Henderson’s Black Student Union, attendees viewed West Chester University’s 2016 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Brunch video, which featured numerous remarks from students attending all three West Chester Area School District high schools. Click here to watch the video.
Juliana M. Mosley, Vice President for Student Affairs at Lincoln University, was the banquet’s keynote speaker. Mosley spoke to attendees about the importance of being yourself, recognizing one’s support system, honing your skills, and finding the positive in every day. She also she took guests on a walk down the yellow brick road, citing characters and character traits from the film “The Wiz” and encouraging those in the audience to find their own emerald city.
Shirley Wilson, co-advisor of Henderson High School’s BSU, then led the presentation of certificates to members of Henderson High School’s Black Student Union, recognizing the students for their leadership both inside and outside of the classroom. “In addition to being a way by which we demonstrate our appreciation to various organizations, groups, and individuals, the Annual Scholarship Banquet serves to encourage students to reach their maximum potential through exposure to visible, positive role models who share their personal struggles and victories with those in attendance,” said Wilson. “As we seek to promote pride in the rich heritage of African Americans, we aim to inspire attendees to get involved in helping others within the community to reach their personal best. We want to highlight the academic performance and efforts of our students, allowing the audience to witness their growth and potential.”
Korey Bell, co-advisor of Henderson High School’s BSU, led the presentations of the Dr. John Hewlett Award to Wilma Santos and Tony Wesley. Santos, who is a Henderson High School alumnus, currently serves as a caseworker for the WCASD and plans to retire at the end of the school year. Wesley has served as a member of the custodial staff at Henderson High School for 35 years, and is regarded as Henderson’s “Number One Fan.” Joan Osborne was presented with the Bell-Majors Award, an award named after Jaclyn Majors and Valerie Bell, the two Henderson High School students who established the Black Student Union in 1978. Osborne is a graduate of Henderson High School and served for 32 years as the West Chester Area School District’s Copy Center Clerk until she accepted a new position as Accounting Technician with the District.
At the conclusion of the event, leaders from Harmony Lodge #21 of the Free and Accepted Masons specially presented a donation to the Black Student Union.
The Henderson High School Black Student Union helps to build the self-esteem of African American students by encouraging pride in their rich heritage and participation in challenging learning experiences. The organization also helps students develop leadership skills, as well as educational and vocational career goals, while providing information on African American heritage to educators and the student body at large.
“By participating in the Annual Scholarship Banquet, I hope that the students learned how much the West Chester Area School District and entire West Chester community cares for and values them - not just as students, but as people with hopes and dreams,” said Bell. "I want the community to enjoy watching our students grow and evolve into contributing members of society.”
For more information, please contact Ms. Tracey Dukert, Digital Communications Coordinator, West Chester Area School District at 484-266-1170 or tdukert@wcasd.net.
Photo caption, above right: The co-advisors of Henderson High School's Black Student Union stand with the 2016 award recipients. From left: Shirley Wilson, Joan Osborne, Tony Wesley, Wilma Santos, and Korey Bell.