“Many Hands – one Mission”
A Celebration of Black Achievement

By Cheryl D’Mello

CSU black graduates wear their Kente stoles at the 21st Annual Curtis Wilson Scholarship Fund Dinner.

The 21st Annual Curtis Wilson Scholarship Fund Dinner, held on Saturday, April 25, 2009 at the Bert L. and Iris S. Wolstein Center at Cleveland State University, was a celebration of legacy, history, and victory. The annual fund raiser honors the legacy of the late educator Curtis Wilson, who was the Director of the Black Studies Program and an assistant professor of history at CSU. Scholarships were awarded to high school seniors from Cleveland Metropolitan School District and CSU students. Black faculty and staff were honored for their service and 36 graduating students from CSU were recognized.

Dr. Charleyse S. Pratt, Director, Learning Communities Activities at CSU was the Mistress of Ceremonies. The gathering of students, families, faculty, staff, and community members were welcomed by Dr. Njeri Nuru-Holm, Vice President for Institutional Diversity at CSU. She highlighted the evening’s theme of “Many hands – one Mission” and thanked the students for their contribution to the CSU community. Paul Snowball, President, Black Faculty and Staff Organization greeted the gathering: “This is a special night of celebration and achievement. It is not a journey that is complete, but it has reached a point where celebration is appropriate.”

Reverend Jonathan Pressley, from the Love Center Interdenominational Church gave a stirring rendition of the Black National Anthem followed by an invocation delivered by Reverend Paul Carrington, also from Love Center Interdenominational Church.

After a formal sit down dinner, Prester Pickett, MFA, Coordinator, Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center delivered the keynote address. “Keep your hands on the plow….keep your eyes on the prize…hold on, hold on” his opening song taken from a traditional African-American spiritual resounded through the hall. He reminded the graduating students to think about the individuals who had nurtured them at CSU. He recalled that his mother taught him to say, “Yes I can, but I need help.” He asked graduating students: “Are you willing to say I can do it, but I need help?”

The event also commemorated the late Wanda M. Coleman, a former staff member in CSU’s offices of Alumni Affairs and Minority Affairs and Community Relations, through the presentation of two scholarships to current students for their community service. Lorna Linen, Conference Specialist, Conference Services presented this year’s awards to students Tommie L. Love and Marie Stolkowski.

The Curtis Wilson Freshman Scholarships were presented by Anthony Roundtree, Coordinator, Web Services, Information Services and Technology to three students from the Cleveland Metropolitan School District who are incoming freshmen at CSU – Dominique D. Brooks, Keyara Garner, and Melesia Lovelace.

The Distinguished Black Faculty and Staff Awards recognize individuals for outstanding service to the University. Snowball presented awards to Dr. Clifford T. Bennett, Chairperson and Professor, Teacher Education; Lenon L. Wright, Property Control Administrator; and Katie Ingram a Secretary in Teacher Education. “It’s a joy working here at CSU; nobody loves the students more than I do. I’m happy to be a part of making their dreams come true,” said Ingram who was surprised to receive the award.

Rev. Pressley gave a powerful rendition of “The Impossible Dream” which preceded the presentation of Kente graduation stoles to 36 Black CSU graduates by Martin Reese, President, Black Alumni Organization. The students were commended by Dr. Pratt who said: “This is a ceremonial gift. It means I made it, I stand on broad shoulders; I am part of this legacy.”

The celebration ended with Valerie Hinton Hannah, Chair, Curtis Wilson Scholarship Fund acknowledging those who had made the event a success, and Rev. Carrington delivering the Benediction.

The Curtis Wilson event is sponsored by Cleveland State’s Black Alumni Organization, Black Faculty and Staff Organization and the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs.

Article originally appeared in The Cauldron on May 4, 2009.