With an enthusiastic crowd gathered to celebrate their educational achievements and bright futures ahead, approximately 50 local youths received scholarships and grants at the 52nd Annual NEED Dinner held March 19 at the Wyndham Grand Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh.
With the theme “College Changes Everything,” these young men and women proved that African American youths are succeeding in education and that they’re doing much more out there than what negative images often portray.
“This night is important because so much of what we see in the media reflects the negativity of African American youth and today we’re witnessing 50 scholars who have worked hard and it’s paid off. They’re on their way to a bright future,” said Marcia Sturdivant, PhD, NEED president and CEO. “We realize the dream of the college education, look how far we’ve come.”
NEED is a nonprofit organization with a vision of unlocking the power of education by helping youth to meet their highest potential and enhance their quality of life.
The organization, which began in 1963 under the founding of Florence Reizenstein and Marion Jones, commenced as a temporary program through the Urban League Education Committee to glean funding for students who were accepted to college but could not afford to attend. Since then the organization has grown and is nationally recognized full service college access program.
According to Sturdivant, since its inception in 1963, NEED has given $24.5 million in grants and scholarships to more than 20,000 students, and provides academic support services to more than 4,000 graduate students annually.
Brandon McClung, a 17-year-old senior at the Barack Obama Academy of International Studies, was one of the evening’s honorees and a recipient of the Dr. Sylvester Pace Scholarship. The late Pace was the longtime president of NEED.
McClung, who has been apart of the NEED program since his sophomore year in high school, said he is honored to be a recipient of that particular scholarship and that, “I thank NEED for all the years of support they’ve given to me and I just hope they continue to believe in me like I believe in myself.” After graduation, McClung will attend Morehouse College where he will major in Business Management.
Along with providing scholarships and grants, NEED also offers programs such as its African American Male Mentoring Initiative, Access to College and Career Education Program, STEM Program, Future NEED Scholars Program, Workforce Diversity Internship Program and Historical Black College and University Tour.
Angela Wright, who attended the dinner in support of her daughter, 18-year-old Taeler Wright, a senior at the Barack Obama Academy for International Studies and one of the evening’s scholarship recipients, expressed the importance of the NEED organization beyond its funding programs. “Not only do they have scholarships for the kids, but they take them on a Historical Black College Tour (which) takes them out of their comfort zone to see what it’s like in other states and cities, and it just gives them an outside view that they may or may not have seen before.
The successful evening began with the opening of the program by master of ceremonies, Harold Hayes, KDKA host and producer, followed by the invocation from Rev. John Cook, pastor of Victory Baptist Church; a singing of the Negro National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing;” and a welcome from Robert and Darlene Powell, the dinner’s honorary chairs.
After the introduction of the scholars with their honor cords and stoles, led by the Sto-Rox High School Drummers, and a wonderful dinner, the program continued with a dance performances by the Mt. Ararat Baptist Church Dance Ensemble, a recognition of sponsors and a message from the NEED board and president.
Sturdivant spoke about the organization’s commitment to make higher education accessible for everyone as well as how the far the education system has come and how there is still work left to be done. She said, “Unfortunately, many of our students today face the same challenges students faced in 1963. Poverty, under resourced schools and disparity is the reality for many; but in 2015, as in 1963, NEED is committed to reducing barriers that prevent students from reaching their highest potential.”
But it was the evening’s keynote remarks from two NEED alumni that really demonstrated the power of the organization. B.J. Wise, 25 and an account executive for Enterprise Car Sales, and Khadijah Harris, an independent financial advisor, each gave an account of their experiences with NEED and how it has helped them become the successes they are today.
Wise, who spoke of growing up in a single parent household with four siblings and the loss of his father at an early age due to gun violence, gave the students five points to carry with them through life. They were: Create a five-year plan; seek a mentor; remain patient and positive; always be yourself; and “wherever you go in life, make sure they remember your name.”
Harris recounted her journey from high school to college and spoke of the importance of having a great support system. She left the scholars with the message, “No matter what anyone tells you that you can’t do, you can accomplish anything you put your mind to. Never give up. You’re going to fail, you’re going to get tired, people are going to tell you that you can’t do it; don’t give up and keep pushing, it’s worth it.”
The evening concluded with a rendition of “Summertime” from the opera, “Porgy and Bess,” followed by the benediction from Rev. Cook.
When asked how the evening disproves the negative stereotypes of Black youths, Taeler, said, “The fact that they gathered all these students here tonight whom (are making) achievements and receiving scholarships in itself proves them wrong.”
Taeler received the Brenda Tate Scholarship and plans to attend Slippery Rock University where she will major in Exercise Science.
(For more information on NEED, visit www.needld.org.)
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