Suffolk News-Herald

In her recent speech to the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority during its May Week celebration, Michelle Easton focused on the dash in our lives that between our birth (Alpha) and our death (Omega). She said that when you look at famous people like Thurgood Marshall, Tiger Woods and others who are doing great things in their lives, you can see the relevance of their dash.

&uot;If we look at the scholarship recipients today, what are we doing to support their dash and to help nurture their dash? We need to instill into those young persons the desire to give back because when much is given, much is required.&uot;

Easton, director of Experimental Education at the School of Pharmacy at Hampton University, spoke to the Suffolk Alumnae Chapter in the Suffolk Holiday Inn. Laverne Faye Nicholson presided at this time dedicated to higher education and scholarships.

Easton then named ways and gave three examples how to help them to fulfill their dash.

&uot;It’s all about what we have done here today. We have eaten and the past tense of eat is ate. That A in ate means that we need to have the right approach. The T means that you have to have the right target, and the E means that you need the right execution and follow through. Without these three elements you will not be able to maximize your dash,&uot; she said.

She gave many other examples to emphasize her point about the importance of filling the dash in one’s life.

The sorority presented a $1,000 scholarship to two college students, Shana C. Bates and Latoya D. Boone.

Bates is a graduate of Nansemond River High School and a senior at Hampton University in Hampton. She is majoring in communicative science and disorder speech pathology and has maintained a GPA of 3.5. She is the daughter of Samuel and Barbara Jones.

Boone is a graduate of Lakeland High School and a senior at North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro, N.C. She is majoring in engineering and has maintained a GPA of 3.8. She is the daughter of Leon and Vanessa Boone.

Because of his academic standing, Malcolm Harris, 17, a junior at Lakeland, received a $200 scholarship to attend the presidential classroom this summer for one week at Georgetown, University in Washington, D.C. He is also the first student in Suffolk ever chosen for this honor. Harris is the son of Rose Harris and the grandson of Catherine Harris, both of Suffolk.

Recognitions and presentations were also made to special Deltas.

Lillian M. Jones presented certificates to the following: Vicki Wiggins-Pittman for her achievement in community projects and serving as president of the Nansemond Parkway Civic League; Hattie West for performing volunteer work with the Meals on Wheels Program; Grace Lancaster for her volunteer work as a tutor and with the Meals on Wheels Program; Helivi Holland, for her service as an assistant attorney in the City of Suffolk; Mary Steverson for her past work as a guidance counselor at Lakeland High School; Amy Gillus for a job promotion to director of drug abuse at the Rivers Correctional Prison; and Dr. Jacqueline Sharpe for being an outstanding mother/volunteer at John Yeates Middle School.

Vermelle Byrd is chairman and Jotta Graves is co-chairman of the Delta Academy. Delta Academy is designed to offer opportunities to young women ages 11-14 and helps them to gain access to math/science leadership and technology experiences. The primary goal is to prepare young participation in the 21st-century world. The academy meets at noon the first Saturday in each month in the East Suffolk Complex. Twenty-five students attend but 15 were present Saturday. They were Shanon Council, Charnelle Banks, Gilbretta Cross,

Shawna Davis, Bianco Lascano, LaShawndra Walker, Charmaine Walker, Allysa Boone, Kelley Davis, Kiaya Jennings, Diamond Berry, Candance Myrick, Marissa Spruiell, Kayla White, and Tallis Mitchell. Others on the program were Priscilla Beamon-Benn , Doris Johnson, and Patricia Lynn Richards.

The audience was treated to music by the Delta Ensemble: Pamela B. Jones-Watford and Jacqueline Matthews.

Priscilla Beamon-Benn was chairperson of the celebration. The local chapter was organized on Sept. 12, 1964 with 12 members. Of these six are still active in the Suffolk Chapter, five are deceased and one is active in another chapter.