The Roanoke NAACP Youth Council held a “Celebration of Youth” program on Sunday, April 25, in the Loudon Ave. Church parking lot, which encompassed three recognitions. The recognitions included: 2021 Local ACT-SO Winners Ceremony, Installation of new officers and the bestowing the NAACP Kente stoles upon 2021 high school seniors. Due to the pandemic, the ACT-SO program (sponsored by the Branch) have met with the Olympians virtually since December 2021.
This years local virtual competition was held Saturday, April 24 with the following results; Gold Medal winners: Janiah Merchant — Short Story; Uyen Tran — STEM-Biology/Microbiology; London Paige — STEM-Medicine and Health.
Silver Medalist: Christion Bryant — Poetry Written; Bronze Medalists: Janiah Merchant — Poetry Written; and Lynn Park — Original Essay. Gold medalists will be able to compete in the virtual National ACT-SO Competition in July 2021.
Installation of new officers, The Youth Council held its annual election on Sunday, April 11, with the following new officers elected. The Nominating Committee under the guidance of Co-Advisor, Lorena Wilson, presented a challenging slate of officers and the virtual election went smoothly. The officers installed Sunday, April 24 during the Celebration of Youth are: President Christion Bryant, WFHS; 1st Vice President Treya Harper; 2nd Vice President Jayveon Tucker, PHHS; 3rd Vice President Olivia Davoll, NSHS; Secretary Nyia Palmer, Hidden Valley HS; and Treasurer Simone Bryant, Breckinridge MS; Advisor, Gloria Randolph-King; Co-Advisors, Lorena Wilson and Dawn Bryant. Branch President Brenda Hale, delivered the Oath of Office.
Graduating Seniors Recognition is usually held at the Roanoke Branch’s Annual “Citizen of the Year Banquet,” which will now be held in December 2021. Due to the lateness in the year, Youth Council advisors bestowed the seniors, present, with the NAACP Kente Stoles in a brief ceremony as each stated plans following graduation.
Past officers receiving a special thanks with certificates for their work during the past year include: Immediate Past President, London Paige; 1st Vice President Brianna Wilson; 2nd Vice President Uyen Tran; 3rd Vice President Yolanda Joseph; Secretary Daphenie Joseph; Asst. Secretary John Miller-Penn; Treasurer Grace Penn; Assistant Treasurer Nia Palmer. Many thanks to all of the faithful chapter chairpersons and members for their dedicated service and commitment.
The Youth Council meets the 2nd and 4th Sundays of every month at 6:00 p.m. virtually and in the Lawson Building when able to return to in person meetings with new members always welcomed!
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