Suffolk News-Herald

Eight citizens were honored Sunday at the 10th Annual Porter-Ward-Vann Memorial Scholarship Banquet in Temple Beth-El.

Proceeds go toward the Porter-Ward-Vann Scholarship Fund. The program is sponsored annually by the Chi Eta Phi Sorority Inc. Omega Chapter, Suffolk.

Honorees were Lula M. Copeland, Ernestine M. Davis, Rosa B. Hicks, Karen L. Jenkins, Ann W. Shape, Eileen A. Thorne, Maddie D. Vann, and Joan C. Watford.

Presenting them were Sorors Mary Howell, Bennie Marshall, Marcel Faulk, Orpah West, Janice White, Charlene Brown, and Helen Williams,

Each honoree received transparent acrylic trophies engraved with the following message: Chi Eta Phi Sorority Inc. Omega Chapter, Family Foundations Award, Presented to the honoree’s name 2003. Prior to receiving these trophies, each honoree’s biography was read by their presenter and introduced to the audience.

Porter-Ward-Vann Memorial Scholarships in the amount of $500 were also presented to LaShawnda Lewis, a student at Norfolk State University and Tameika Langston, a student at Sentara School of Health Professions.

Book Scholarships in the amount of $100 were presented to Krystal L. Gizara, a student at Tidewater Community College, and Landria D. Bynum, a student at Norfolk State University.

Others on the program were Councilman Calvin Jones and sorors Leathia Carroll and Charlene Brown. Ashlin and Britney Jenkins and Marcus Moore performed musical selections.

The Omega Chapter of Chi Eta Phi Sorority Inc., Suffolk established a scholarship fund in memory of its first three deceased sorors who dedicated so much of their time and talent in giving service for humanity.

It was agreed that the scholarship should be named the Porter-Ward-Vann Memorial Scholarship in their honor. It was also agreed that the sorority would memorialize any of their succeeding sorors by adding their names to the Memorial Plaque each year and recognizing them at the Annual Memorial Scholarship Banquet.

The purpose of the scholarship fund is to provide assistance to students who are continuing their education in a school of professional nursing.