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Henderson HS Hosts 34th Annual Black Student Union Banquet
Henderson HS Hosts 34th Annual Black Student Union Banquet
West Chester Area School District's Henderson High School recently hosted its 34th annual Black Student Union Scholarship Banquet (BSU.) This year's banquet, with a theme of "Strength in Unity," brought together students, staff, administration, alumni, school board members, and community members. Attendees included Pennsylvania State Representative Carolyn Comitta, West Chester Mayor Dianne Herrin, and WCASD school board members, Joyce Chester and Dr. Kate Shaw. The banquet is held each year at the end of February to mark the end of Black History Month.
BSU members welcomed guests, followed by the playing of the African American Anthem, "Lift Every Voice and Sing." District Superintendent Dr. James Scanlon then offered up his remarks.
"As I was signing the anthem, a couple of the words resonated with me and I thought that maybe our country could learn a few things from this song," said Scanlon.
"'God of our weary years, God of our silent tears.' As I was singing that line, I couldn't help but think of the families and the victims in Parkland, Florida with the tragic school shooting that took place, and how we have weary years of fight for gun control and for mental health solutions in our communities and schools. I thought about Black History Month and throughout our time here in West Chester, the long fight against racism in our country. So perhaps, our entire country can learn from this particular song and the powerful message it sends."
Scanlon concluded his remarks by asking for a moment of silence for the victims of the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
This year's keynote speaker was Kyle J. Boyer. Mr. Boyer is an educator, social justice advocate, and minister. He is a member of the Tredyffrin/Easttown School Board, an executive committee member of the West Chester branch of the NAACP, and a member of the advisory board of the Foundation for Learning in Tredyffrin/Easttown. He also serves as a Youth Leader at Mt. Carmel Church of God in Christ in West Chester.
Like Dr. Scanlon, Boyer also focused a portion of his remarks on the school shooting in Parkland, Florida and the importance of fighting for what one believes is the right thing to do.
"When opportunities come to us, we need to make use of them," said Boyer. "We saw in Florida how many of our brothers and sisters lost their lives. After a situation like that, the temptation grows to become comfortable, to fight for a few weeks and then let the situation go on as normal. However, in moments like these, it brings home the fact that we have an opportunity. There are opportunities all around us. There are opportunities to make sure that every vote counts. When we look around, we find opportunities to make sure that we fight for justice, not just for our group, but folks of all political and religious persuasions. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said 'injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
"Time is limited,” Boyer added. “None of us can get time back. It behooves us to make the best use of it."
Following Mr. Boyer's address, BSU co-advisor Shirley Wilson presented certificates of recognition to the 18 student members of the BSU that were in attendance. Dr. Korey Bell then followed with the presentation of awards to this year’s honorees.
Each year, the BSU honors community members, faculty, and staff who go above and beyond with their support and commitment to Henderson students, specifically in the BSU.
The Bell-Majors Award, named after students Valerie Bell and Jaclyn Majors, who founded the BSU with advisor Alice Thomas in 1978 was awarded to Mr. Rory A. Wilson, Sr.
Mr. Wilson has worked for the West Chester Area School District since 1984. He has served the district in many capacities, originally in the maintenance department, working his way to assistant maintenance supervisor, and eventually tackling the important role as mail carrier for the entire district a role he still holds.
The Dr. John Hewlett Award was given to Mr. Robert Bruckman. Dr. Hewlett was the former Human Resources director for the WCASD and has been credited with increasing the number of minority hires in the district.
"Everywhere I go in the community, Bob is there," said Bell. "Every year that I've been part of the BSU, Bob is there. He's always there in the background giving his input, and sometimes it is the people in the background that we have to look back and appreciate how they make a difference."
Bruckman, affectionately known as "Dancing Bob," humbly accepted the award.
"As a kid, I was upset by the inequities that I perceived, how divisive our society was, and how unfairly many people were often treated," said Bruckman. "When I finally graduated from college, I joined the Peace Corps because I believed I might learn how people in other cultures lived. What I learned is that there are essentially two different ways that people live their lives - either a humanist manner in a "we" society or materialistically in a "me" society."
Mr. Bruckman said as a result of his travels and experiences he was guided by the desire to live a humanist existence as a minimalist, focusing less on himself and "stuff" and more on other people while striving for a more equitable, just and peaceful existence for himself and others.
Bruckman served as a community development advisor and housing expert for the Western Nigerian Government. He helped design the prototype of a low-cost house for the local culture and climate there.
"People in these societies, though they may be considered by many in this country to be poor or poverty-stricken, are in my perspective, however, to be very wealthy," Bruckman added. "Rich, in that they have everything they need; what I call the four 'F's' - food, family, faith, and friends. And they are happy despite, or perhaps because of their lack of material possessions."
Mr. Bruckman was also presented with a citation from the U.S. House of Representatives from Representative Carolyn Comitta on behalf of Representative Duane Milne and Senator Andrew Dinniman. Mr. Wilson received a citation as well.
Lastly, Dr. Bell handed out the Alice Thomas Award to BSU President Brielle Ridgeway. Bell noted that Ridgeway is a leader that keeps students motivated and the BSU moving in the right direction.
"I wish I had known about this, I would've put it on my (college) transcripts," joked Ridgeway. "I've really enjoyed being part of the BSU all four years. It is something that has led me toward the direction I am going."
The primary purpose of the Henderson BSU is 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, along with education and vocational career goals, while providing a clear understanding of African American heritage to educators and the student body at large.