The recipient of the ESU Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award, the Gertrude Mary Smith Boddie Scholarship recipients, and the Julianna V. Bolt Art Contest winners were among those honored at the university’s thirteenth annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Celebration Breakfast on Monday, January 18, 2010.
Sponsored by East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania, the breakfast attracted a sell-out crowd. The event’s keynote speaker was Dr. Henry A. Gardner, vice president for enrollment management at the university.
Dr. Victoria Sanders, assistant to the president and associate vice president for inclusion and equity at ESU was presented this year’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award, which is given for espousing the principles of the late Dr. King.
Other award criteria considered by a committee in determining the selection of the recipient for the award, include: espousing the principles of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., such as leadership, courage and service to the community. Normally there are two Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Awards presented each year--one to a community member and one to an ESU employee or student. The community award was not presented this year.
Dr. Sanders, who has dedicated more than 20 years of professional service to ESU, was formerly the university’s director of diversity and equal opportunity.
Her work has encompassed strategic planning and leadership, diversity training, disability compliance, and faculty and staff search and recruitment initiatives at ESU for more than six years.
She previously served as senior associate director and interim director of admissions respectively, and was responsible for strategic leadership in all aspects of admissions recruitment and selection.
Dr. Sanders has conducted numerous presentations and workshops throughout the country related to diversity, cultural competence, the admission and retention of students of color and inclusion and equity.
She has also conducted research and co-authored articles on those topics and obtained grant funding for initiatives related to engaging campus diversity, faculty and student diversity recruitment and retention, and self-efficacy. She has dedicated some 30 years of her professional life to the field of education.
Dr. Sanders earned a doctoral degree in administration and leadership from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Pa., a master’s degree of education from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., and a bachelor of science degree in elementary education with a sociology minor from SUNY at Cortland in Cortland, N.Y.
She holds professional certification and enhancements related to mediation, diversity training, affirmative action, human development, leadership, and equal opportunity in employment.
She is a member of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Diversity Education Consortium, the National Coalition Building Institute, the American Association for Affirmative Action, and the Pennsylvania Black Conference on Higher Education.
The Gertrude Mary Smith Boddie Scholarship, which is awarded to full-time ESU students of color every year, went to two recipients: Minette Wilson, a sophomore communication studies major with a concentration in public relations and a minor in political science with a concentration in pre-law, from Effort, Pa., and Prince Ebo, a junior political science/pre-law major from Yeadon, Pa. The scholarships were each in the amount of $1,855.00.
Ms. Wilson is the vice president for ESU’s African American Student Alliance and treasurer of the Voices of Triumph Gospel Choir.
She is also a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and involved in many community service initiatives on campus in order to promote a positive environment for students of color and also to share her pride in the African American culture with the student population at ESU.
Ms. Wilson said she dedicates her work at ESU to her mother who “works tirelessly to create a better life for her family,” and to the change she wants to bring to the world for those who believe in Dr. King’s vision of social justice.
Upon completion of her bachelor’s degree, Ms. Wilson will pursue a master’s degree in public policy and public administration and hopes to obtain a jurisprudence doctorate.
Mr. Ebo is the president of ESU’s Voices of Triumph Gospel Choir, former vice president of the African American Student Alliance, and a facilitator of the Race Relations Project at ESU. Mr. Ebo said that he, “... has a passion for cultural diversity and the promotion of non-violence and equality.” He characterized his work with the aforementioned ESU organizations as an effort to promote the betterment of students of color on campus and in the community. He expressed that he is committed to his role in the Voices of Triumph choir, and to his work with the Race Relations Project at ESU, and to working with students in regard to issues related to race and culture.
Qualifying criteria for the scholarship include: a minimum grade point average of 2.5; enrollment as a full-time sophomore (30 semester hour credits completed) at the time of application, and; demonstration of financial need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as verified by the office of student financial aid. Scholarship applicants must also write an essay of 250 words describing their commitment to Dr. King’s philosophy and demonstrate a commitment to social justice through evidence of community and/or university involvement. Proceeds from the MLK celebration breakfast make this scholarship possible.
In addition to the presentation of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award and the Gertrude Mary Smith Boddie Scholarship Award winners, the Julianna V. Bolt Art Contest Awards were presented to local high school students for their submissions. More than 60 students representing East Stroudsburg High School North, East Stroudsburg High School South, Stroudsburg High School, and Pocono Mountain High School East submitted entries.The winners of this year’s contest were: First place, Chandler Klein, Stroudsburg High School (Teacher, Mrs. McKain); Second Place, Erica Jack, Stroudsburg High School (Teacher, Mrs. McKain); and, Third Place, Lauren Williams, Stroudsburg High School (Teacher, Mrs. McKain). Honorable mention winners were: Kelsey Starner, Enya Cunningham and Sifa Blackmon from Stroudsburg High School, Jessica Radzierez from Pocono Mountain High School East, and Michelle Thompson from East Stroudsburg High School North. This year’s art contest was judged by university and community leaders including: Feno S. Volpe, ESU professor emeritus and local artist; Joni Oye-Benintende, assistant professor of art, Wayne Bolt, retired resident and community member service on the MLK Celebration Breakfast Committee; Julianna V. Bolt, ESU accounting assistant 1994-1996; Danelle McClanahan, director of diversity/ombudsperson; Darlene Farris-Labar, assistant professor of Art, and Melvin Clark, local artist.
The keynote speaker for this year’s breakfast was Dr. Henry A. Gardner, vice president for enrollment management at ESU.
He delivered his unique perspective on how Dr. King’s philosophy continues to be influential today in light of the event’s theme, “Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education,” and discussed his personal memories of Dr. King.
Dr. Gardner began his career at ESU in 2005 as a full-time temporary assistant professor in the department of professional and secondary education. He then served as associate provost for enrollment management before assuming his current role at ESU. Currently, Gardner is responsible for the supervision of ESU’s Office of Admissions, Center for Enrollment Services, and New Student Programs and Orientation. Dr. Gardner attended the University at Bloomington and received a bachelor of science degree in elementary education from Kent State University.
Dr. Gardner has authored and co-authored numerous articles on topics related to diversity and higher education administration at state and national conferences. He is currently working with the Community College of Philadelphia and the Graduate Philadelphia College Access Center to establish new educational partnerships for the university and new affordable educational opportunities for students in the Philadelphia region.
Award winners honored at ESU's thirteenth annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Breakfast
Published: Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Updated: Thursday, February 4, 2010
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