The Gamma Beta Boulé chapter of Sigma Pi Phi fraternity recently honored Duval County Public Schools’ (DCPS) top African-American students during the 26th Annual High Potential Youth Recognition Awards Program.
More than 220 DCPS’ students in grades 10-12 were recognized during the program. To qualify for recognition, students had to score in the 90th percentile or higher on the reading and/or mathematics subtests of a nationally norm-referenced standardized test, and score at achievement level 4 or higher in reading and/or mathematics on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.
Mr. Michael Huyghue, commissioner of the United Football League and president and CEO of Excess Sports and Entertainment, LLC, served as the keynote speaker of the program.
During his address, Mr. Huyghue talked about his experiences of being the first African-American to achieve things throughout his years in law school, his professional career and now as being the first African-American commissioner of a professional sport. He advised the students to not be afraid of taking risk.
“While it’s easiest to take the safe road, the bigger the risk, the bigger the reward.”
David Gaspard,
Paxon School for Advanced Studies; Tonya Herbert,
Stanton College Preparatory; Chloe Herring,
Terry Parker High School; Darien Williams,
First Coast High School; and Alphonso Wilson,
Robert E. Lee High School, were named the top five DCPS’ students and competed for the coveted Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Educational Achievement Award and Scholarship.
All five top students were featured in a video vignette during the ceremony. They were also awarded monetary gifts to assist them with their post-secondary careers.
The Youth Recognition Program was initiated in 1986, under the leadership of Dr. Charles H. Cline, retired Duval County Public Schools Associate Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Dr. Alvin G. White, retired Duval County Public Schools’ Chief of Staff and Partnerships and Dr. Wendell P. Holmes, former Chairman of the Duval County School Board and Founding Sire Archon of Gamma Beta Boulé (President). All three are longstanding members of the Gamma Beta Boulé chapter of Sigma Pi Phi and received Legends Awards during the ceremony.
Dr. Ezekiel Bryant, former DCPS’ principal and first African-American to be named provost/president of a campus in the Florida community college system, was also honored with a posthumous Legends Award.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida served as the event’s corporate donor. Co-sponsors of the event were Duval County Public Schools, the University of North Florida, the Robin Shepherd Group, Ketterman Photography and CSI Engineering.
Altoria White, DCPS’ coordinator of television production, received a special recognition for creating the video vignette and for the various roles she played during the planning of the event.
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