Florida Sentinel Bulletin

SPRING TIME TAMPA BLACK BUSINESS BUS TOUR

Three bus loads of passengers traveled with Candy Lowe throughout the city for the Spring Time Black Business Bus Tour on Saturday, April 27, 2019. After the tour, there were vendors and live entertainment at Tampa Park Plaza for those on the tour. Among those who joined Ms. Lowe, founder of the Black Business Bus Tour, were: front row, Connie Melton, Delores Grayson, former City Councilman, Harry Cohen; Candy Lowe, Mona Judge, Travia Anderson, and Rhonda Jackson. On the back row are: Ann Acosta, Dee Wilkins, Sherri Watkins, Rose Pyles, Beth Eriksen Shoup, Tia Jenkins, Connie Burton and Twanda Bradley. (Photograph by BRUNSON)

PHLEBOTOMY CLASS HAS GRADUATION CEREMONY 

The Phlebotomy Class at Erwin West Technical College held its graduation last month at A. P. Leto High School. The ceremony included graduates from January to April 2019. The class consisted of 14 graduates. Graduates shown with school administrators are: Mirabu Carr, Clara Diaz, Qiana Francis, Phyllis Gilliam, Jacqueline Gomez, Rosa Jaimes, Cristina Leon, Jagan Manukonda, Frank Noda, Miriam Perez, Patrice Russell, Sarah Stokes, Andrea Zamora and Johanna Aracena. Neil Risher is the Principal, Leto Adult School, Susan Miguel-Torena, Erwin West Administrator and Dr. Tatyana Harris, who did the pinning. (Photograph by Frederick Harris)

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT YEA! AWARDS TO STUDENTS

Recently, the Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners recognized several students for their accomplishments. The YEA! (Youth Excellence and Achievement) Awards were presented in the categories of Leadership, Volunteer or Community Service and Success Despite Difficult Odds. The Hillsborough County Commission on the Status of Women selected the winners from more than 40 nominees. The recipients, shown from left to right are: Gavriela Daniels, Trinity Academy, Leadership: Vance Tomasi, Farnell Middle School, Volunteer or Community Service;  Naomi Weller, Progress Village Middle Magnet School of Arts, Success Despite Difficult Odds; Christopher Rodriguez, Plant High School, Leadership; Blaque Jarvis, Middleton High School, Success Despite Difficult Odds; and Grace Ramos, Plant High School, Volunteer or Community Service. The Commissioners shown on the second row from left to right are Kimberly Overman, Pat Kemp, Les Miller, Jr., Stacy White, Mariella Smith, and Sandra Murman.

NEWLY-ELECTED MAYOR JOINS TEENS AT SAFE & SOUND SUMMIT

                        Newly-Elected Mayor Jane Castor, joined a group of youth, elected officials and other citizens on Saturday, May 4, 2019 for Safe & Sound Hillsborough, Safe Summit ’19 Violence Prevention Conference. The event was held in partnership with the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. The all-day event was held at George S. Middleton High School and included a town hall meeting with several policy makers participating, a teen summit, and much more. Members of Men of Vision shown with Mayor Castor, center, are: Anthony Walker – Spoto High School, Howard Brookins – Hillsborough High School, Isaiah Hopkins – Middleton High School, Jonathan Dorsey – Tampa Bay Tech High School, Karrtington Hickman – Spoto High School, Mayor Castor, Tyshawn Hatch, Avirel Harris, Uriel Cajuste, and Joshua McDonald – Middleton High School. (Photograph by Ricky Roberts)

LOCAL DISC JOCKEYS HOST EVENT FOR POPULAR DJ

            Local Disc Jockeys hosted a benefit fundraiser for the wife of popular DJ, the late Floyd Joy Rivers. Tonya Lewis and Club 1828 spearheaded the event that was held after his death for Mrs. Wanda Rivers. DJs and family members shown at the event were: DJ Godfather, DJ Eric Rumlin, Floyretta Rivers (his daughter) DJ Tee Pee, Casanova, Randall C, DJ Worm, Dee Rivers (daughter), DJ Black, DJ J. T, DJ Redd, DJ Pun, DJ Reggie Reg and DJ J-Roc. (Photograph by BRUNSON)

SUPT. EAKINS ATTENDS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION GALA

            Hillsborough County Public Schools Superintendent Jeff Eakins is shown with Miss Middleton 2019-2020, Cateira Marshall and her mother, Allesha Marshall. Cateira was one of several Miss Middletons, Homecoming Kings and Queens who attended a scholarship ball held in their honor April 26-27, 2019 at Tampa’s Marriott Westshore Hotel. The event drew some 250 attendees and was sponsored by the Middleton High School Alumni Association to raise funds for scholarships for graduates and for ongoing programs at the school. Luvator Nelson is president of the alumni association, and 1965 Miss Middleton Phan Boston was event chairperson. (Photo by Fred Hearns)

         2019-2020 MIDDLETON HIGH SCHOOL KING AND QUEEN CROWNED

                  The George S. Middleton Senior High School held its 2019-2020 Mr. and Miss Middleton Scholarship Competition and Pageant on Thursday, April 18, 2019, in the School’s Henry “Shake” Washington Auditorium. The Pageant was coordinated by Tameca Johnson, Television Production staffer, Department of Career and Technical Education Middleton High. The participants are shown with Principal Tia Brown, center. From left to right are: 3rd Runner Up, Anne Christie Joseph; 1st Runner-Up, Ivory Cromartie; Miss Middleton, 2019-2020, Cateira Marshall; Principal Brown; Mr. Middleton, 2019-2020, Tico Allen, Most Congenial and Most Talented award recipient (performed a monologue he wrote, entitled “Sorry”); 1st Runner-Up, Mr. Middleton High School, Roshard Jackson, Highest Scholar, 4.6 GPA; and 2nd Runner-Up, Chayla Austin. (Photo courtesy of Kartika Ahern, a Middleton senior, who is  Editor-in-Chief of the Siberian, Middleton’s School Newspaper.)

TAMPA CHAPTER FAMU NAA PRESENTS CHECK DURING ENDOWMENT GALA

                  The Tampa Chapter of Florida A&M University National Alumni Association (NAA) presented a check in the amount of $52,000 to the Florida A&M University Foundation. The presentation was made earlier this month when the Scholarship Gala was held at the DoubleTree Hotel. Tampa Bay Chapter Endowment Scholarship Gala Committee Co-Chairs were Rosalyn McIntosh and Debra Duggins. Those shown with the check are: from left, Carmen Cummings, FAMU Office of Alumni Affairs; Wendell Duggins, President, Tampa Chapter; Col. Gregory Clark, President, FAMU NAA; Dr. Larry Robinson, President, Florida A&M University; and Dr. Shawnta Friday-Stroud, Executive Director, FAMU Foundation. (Photograph by Ricky Roberts)

FAMILY MEMBERS LAUNCH FOUNDATION TO ASSIST SINGLE PARENTS

                  The family of a local educator launched the Gwendolyn M. Baker Foundation on April 6, 2019, at Mt. Olive A. M. E. Church. Mrs. Baker was an Early Childhood educator in the Hillsborough County School System for 25 years, 23 of those years were spent at Meacham Elementary School. To honor her memory, the family established the foundation to present a scholarship to a single parent. The scholarship will be used to cover after-school care. Family members who were present at the launching were: from left, Alvin Baker, Jr., Loretta Baker, Sophia Baker Alexander (Founder, President), Alvin Baker, Sr., Kim Williams, Varnard Williams, Tonya Johnson Baker and Kim Baker. (Photograph by BRUNSON)