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Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. & BSL Educational Foundation Inc.
6th Annual Bro. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Young People’s Oratorical Contest
Faith’s Role in the Life of Today’s Youth?
“The soft-minded man always fears change. He feels security in the status quo, and he has an almost morbid fear of the new. For him, the greatest pain is the pain of a new idea.”
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
There are a myriad of problems facing our youth today, a struggling economy, failing school systems, gangs, drugs, and intolerance just to mention a few. This year’s theme: Faith’s Role in the Life of Today’s Youth addressed young people’s use of faith as a support mechanism in surviving societal and environmental pressures and distractions on their journey to becoming productive and successful adults. From this the men of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. and The BSL Educational Foundation Inc. with sponsorship by Travelers created an educational forum by which Hartford area youth addressed this theme, proposed their unique solutions, and learned the art of oratory, all while earning scholarships.
On the evening of Saturday, January 9, 2010, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. held the Sixth Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Young Peoples Oratorical Contest entitled Faith’s Role in the Life of Today’s Youth. The contest placed eight young orators in a position to express their views. For the eight finalists, the competition was about more than a one-day event; the competition represented months of hard work, dedication, practice, and research.
Beginning in November 2009, eight finalists were chosen from a group of fifteen other young orators after presenting original speeches before a selection committee of members from the BSL Educational Foundation Inc. Upon acceptance, each orator was required to attend a public speaking workshop including a session facilitated by Joelle Hayes, Second Vice President; Travelers Diversity Office. The eight finalists were paired with members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. who served as mentor and advisor through the duration of the competition. In the weeks leading to the contest, each orator spent numerous hours working with the mentor to perfect all aspects of their speech. This mentorship was provided in hopes that upon completion of the competition the students would be well versed in the art of oratory and more knowledgeable about current events directly linked to their lives.
On Saturday, January 9, 2010, two hundred and fifty supporters filled the pews and balconies of Bethel A.M.E. Church, Bloomfield, CT., to hear the clarion voices of our young orators. Co-Chairs Kareem Nulan and Rufus Jones primed the crowd but the orators wowed the audience. For two hours, the well-crafted arguments of the orators awed the audience, inspiring hope for a better tomorrow. At the end of the program, all of our orators were winners providing a difficult task for our judges to select just one first place winner from both the middle and high school divisions. The judges, varied in their professional expertise with career in the fields of business, higher education, and communication. Rebecca M. Townsend, PhD; Instructor of Communication at Manchester Community College, where she teaches courses in Public Speaking, Interpersonal Communication, Gender and Communication, and Group Communication. Stephen W. Hoag, Ph.D. serves as the State Coordinator for Career and Technical Education State Assessment (CTE) is an ordained evangelical minister. Mark Silk, Ph.D. is the Director of the Leonard Greenberg Center for the Study of Religion in Public Life and Professor of Religion in Public Life at Trinity College. Charles A. Frazier, President, Abundant Life Family Center, a community based social service agency in Hartford as well as an Adjunct Professor at Central Connecticut State University, Capital Community College, and St. Joseph's College. Nicole Hughey is Manager of Diversity Initiatives for the Travelers Diversity Office. She is responsible for providing leadership, direction, and support of the execution of Travelers’ diversity strategy across the enterprise.
Viktoreya Mo’nae Thompson an 8th Grader at Hartford Magnet Middle School and Joel Adifon a 12th Grader at Northwest Catholic High School garnered 1st Place trophies and $3000 savings bonds. In the middle school division, James Towne; King Philip Middle School placed second earning a $2000 savings bond. In third place was Danielle Kling-Joseph; Hartford Magnet Middle School who earned a $1000 savings bond, and in fourth place, Dana Bramble; Hartford Magnet Middle School received a $500 savings bond. In the High school division, Jordan Isaiah Carter, Capital Preparatory Magnet School placed second and earned a $2000 savings bond. Jonathon Osman; of Northwest Catholic High School placed third and earned a $1000 savings bond. Daniella Arthurs; Weaver High School placed fourth and earned a $500 savings bond.
Travelers was presented an appreciation plaque for six years of support and sponsorship of the MLK Oratorical Contest. Since inception in 2005 47 contestants have earned more than $70,000 in US savings bond scholarship prizes. Following the program family and friends were treated to a scrumptious reception in the honor of the orators.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character that is the goal of a true education.” That too is the goal of the BSL Educational Foundation and men of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. With the ongoing support of Travelers and Bethel Bloomfield AME Church, our goal has become a reality for six consecutive years. We hope that by teaching our youth the craft of oratory we are supplying them with tools they will need for future success.
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5th Annual Bro. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Young People's Oratorical Contest
Education: Can We Close The Achievement Gap?
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“Either ignorance will destroy America or America will destroy ignorance” W.E. B. Dubois
“Education is the passport to your future” Malcolm X
The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character- that is the goal of a true education.” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The 5th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Young People’s Oratorical Contest was held on January 24, 2009 at Bethel AME church, Bloomfield, CT. The event showcased the oratory skills of middle school and high school students from the Greater Hartford area on the topic: Education: Can We Close the Achievement Gap? More than 250 family, friends, teachers and supporters walked away with the assurance, that yes we can! In their speeches each participant looked introspectively what is required of students as well as teachers, administrators and parents to ensure success is achieved by all. The young orators’ original speeches trumpeted the need for more personal responsibility by students, encouragement and positive role models for all to achieve excellence and the need to build additional magnate schools to promote diversity and cultural enrichment. Each spoke with a passion and eloquence that belied their youth and inspired many in the audience to become part of the solution rather than waiting for something to happen.
The BSL Educational Foundation Inc, a 501 c-3 organization, affiliated with the local Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc sponsored the event with contributing support by Travelers Insurance and hosted by Bethel AME Church. The eight finalists completed a rigorous program that included tryouts, professional public speaking workshops, and individual mentoring by members of Alpha Phi Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. competing for $17,000 in U.S. Savings Bond scholarships. The difficult task to evaluate the performance of the orators was in the hand of four highly accomplished educators and administrators. They were: Dr. Jeffrey Ogbar, Assoc. Professor of History & Director of the Institute for African American Studies (University of Connecticut); Dr. Cheryl Curtis, Assoc. Professor & Program Coordinator of Secondary English (University of Hartford); Denise Holter, Program Coordinator, Minority Teacher Recruitment for Capital Region Education Council (CREC) and Stephania Davis, Assistant Professor of Communications (Manchester Community College).
The contest comprised of two divisions; middle school and high school. The winner of the middle school division was Khalil Harris of Hartford Magnet Middle School who won a $5,000 U.S. Savings Bond. Other middle school competitors were: 2nd Place Kedeja Salaam of Cromwell Middle School won a $2,000 Savings Bond, 3rd Place Vaeyanna Lettman of Carmen Arace School (Bloomfield) won a $1,000 Savings Bond and 4th Place Langa Cele of Hartford Magnet Middle School won a $500 Savings Bond. The winner of the high school division was Aissa Jones of Bloomfield High School. Aissa won a $5,000 U.S. Savings Bond. The other high school competitors were: 2nd Place Wesley Hopkins won a $2,000 Savings Bond, 3rd Place Shayna Presley of Windsor High School won a $1,000 Savings Bond and 4th Place Theus Mc Bee of Classical Magnet High School won a $500 Savings Bond.
The Foundation is grateful for the commitment and support of Travelers Insurance during our first five years. Bethel AME Church has been our host site since inception. All participants enjoyed a wonderful southern style reception in Johnson Hall at Bethel following the event. Family and friends were able to greet and encourage our young orators and thank them for their inspiring messages. Thanks to Reverend Marcus Blackwell and Evangelist Gwyneth Douglas for their gift of music which helped to fill the sanctuary with songs of praise and joy during the program. Please look for our announcement in September for the 2010 Bro. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Young People Oratorical Contest!
For more information about the BSL Educational Foundation please checkout our website
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| BSL Educational Foundation Scholarship for Spring 2010 Graduating High School Seniors |
The BSL Educational Foundation Inc. is proud to announce the availability of scholarships for graduating high school seniors attending public or private schools in Connecticut. Applications are for students in the 2008-09 school year that will be enrolled in a two-year or four- year college or university beginning in the Fall 2009. The scholarship is a $1,500 one time grant for the freshman year.
All applications must be postmarked by March 31. Additional copies of this cover letter and application may be made if needed. This cover letter must accompany each application. For a copy of the application please click this hyperlink:
2010 Scholarship Applicaiton
Please note that if you are selected as a 2010 Beta Sigma Lambda Educational Foundation scholarship recipient you will be notified by letter. Otherwise, there will be no further communication from the committee.
An Awards Program for recipients will be held on June 6, 2010. Attendance is required. Evidence of Fall Semester 2010 enrollment at a four year college or university must be received by the Beta Sigma Lambda Educational Foundation Inc. prior to the Awards Program.
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MLK Orators 2005-08
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| Since 2005 there have been 31 MLK Orators/Alums from 14 Connectiuct towns representing 20 Middle School and High Schools. We are pleased to share our Alumni Roster of talented and outstanding young people who have earned scholarships totaling more than $42,000 in US Saving Bonds. |
Bro. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Young People’s
Oratorical Contest Alums
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Orator
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Year
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Division
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Adifon ,Joel
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2005
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Middle School
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Brooks, Taylor
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2006
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High School
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Brown, Lee
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2007
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Middle School
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Browne –Springer, Jeanika
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2007
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High School
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Carrier, Anthony
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2008
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Middle School
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Clarke, Raymond
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2005
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Middle School
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Coleman, Andrea
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2006
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High School
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Davis, Michael
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2008
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High School
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Furie, Amanda
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2006
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High School
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Hopkins, Wesley
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2008
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Middle School
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James, Trey
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2007
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High School
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Johnson, Christopher
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2007
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High School
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Jones, Aissa
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2007
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High School
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Jones, Norman
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2006
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High School
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Little, Lauren
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2005
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High School
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Little, Malcolm
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2008
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High School
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Lucey, Mark
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2007
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High School
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Marika Stewart
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2005
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High School
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Marquia Walton
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2005
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High School
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McCoy, Angela
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2005
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Middle School
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Mullin, Devon
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2008
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Middle School
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Norman, Christopher
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2006
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High School
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Osman, Jonathon
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2008
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Middle School
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Perry, Lamar
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2006
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High School
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Presley, Shayna
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2008
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High School
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Richardson, Katie
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2006
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High School
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Roye, Leighton
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2006
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High School
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Salley, Tristan
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2005
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High School
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Samuels, Juan
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2007
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Middle School
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Thomas, Ebony
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2007
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Middle School
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Williams, Brushawn
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2008
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High School
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MLK Orators attended the following schools:
A.I. Prince Tech, Windsor High, Noah Webster, Carmen Arace Middle School, Bloomfield High, Greater Hartford Academy of Math and Science, Middletown High, Conard High, Metropolitan Learning Center, Farmington High, Connecticut International Baccalaureate Academy, Classical Magnet, Two Rivers Magnet, Bristol Eastern, Quick Middle, Fox Middle, Broadview Middle, East Granby High, Bloomfield Big Picture, Irving Robbins Middle School, East Catholic.
MLK Orators have represented the following towns:
Hartford, Windsor, Bloomfield, Middletown, Farmington, South Windsor, Wethersfield, Newington, East Hartford, Danbury, West Hartford, Manchester, Windsor Locks
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