For Immediate Release

 

Contact:         Maryjane Briant
                        News and Media Relations Director
                        Galloway, N.J. 08205
                        Maryjane.Briant@stockton.edu
                        (609) 652-4593
                        stockton.edu/media

Galloway, N.J. - Five members of the Stockton University community will be among the honorees on Saturday, May 20 when 101 Women Plus, Inc. holds its 34^th Annual Black Leadership and Scholarship Awards.

“Black Leadership in Higher Education” is the theme of the Red and White Dinner to be held at Dante Hall, 14 N. Mississippi Ave., Atlantic City. The reception will begin at 4 p.m., followed by dinner, the awards program and dancing from 5-9 p.m. Attire is red and white, semi-formal.

Judah-Abijah Dorrington, president of 101 Women Plus, said the theme of this year’s award is based on the dual values of the organization: education and black leadership. “This year we wanted a program that would present to some and introduce to others, and respectfully honor a few of the outstanding and internationally acclaimed black leadership at Stockton University,” said Dorrington, whose mother founded the group. “Programs such as this are in keeping with the organizational vision set forth by our founder, Dr. Dorothie W. Dorrington, who also was on staff at Stockton University. This is also our way of welcoming the new Stockton campus in Atlantic City to join with us in furthering education and the community.”

Receiving the Black Image Awards will be Shawn Donaldson, associate professor of Sociology, and Linda Williamson Nelson, professor emerita of Anthropology and Africana Studies. This award honors individuals who exemplify the achievements, character, values, principles and skills of black leadership, Dorrington said.

Brian K. Jackson, Chief Operating Officer of Stockton’s Atlantic City Campus currently under construction, and Patricia Reid-Merritt, Distinguished Professor of Social Work and Africana Studies, will each receive Community Service Awards.

Nephthaly Jean-Charles, a recent Biology graduate and aspiring geneticist who also works as a microbiologist quality assurance technician at Barry Callebaut (a chocolate company), will receive the Young Leader Award, which was inspired by her work and speech given at the presentation of the 100 Black Elders Oral History Project.

Shermaine Gunter-Gary, Chief Operating Officer at Empowerment Tools Coalition at Temple University and Executive Director of the Atlantic County Council of Youth Programs, will receive the Black Rose Award. It is given annually to the most “valuable member” who has given their time, skills, resources and love to the organization, upholds its mission and models “The Club Woman’s Creed.”

Golden Rose Awards will be presented to Irene Pridgen, Lannie Almond, Art Dorrington, Etta Francisco, Getha Motley, La Verne Usry and Yvonne Bonito Doggett. The Golden Rose Awards honor and appreciate and grant Emeriti Status to those living charter and/or senior members who have through their wisdom, tenacity and commitment have held the vision for 101 Women Plus. They, formally and ceremonially, now, in the Africentric tradition, take their rightful place as elders of our organization and community, Dorrington explained.

Jordan Langford of Atlantic City will receive the Dorothie W. Dorrington Scholarship Award of $1,000, and will attend Howard University. This is a competitive scholarship based on a scored application which includes documentation of scholastic achievement, extracurricular activities, community service and essay. Funding is provided by this annual fundraising event.

There will be a special presentation of the 100 Black Elders Oral History Project. The project had its roots in the Atlantic City black community when Alma Irene Johnson, 74, a lifelong Atlantic City native, founded The Atlantic City African-American Experience, a non-profit corporation. She and her organization worked with Stockton’s Shawn Donaldson and Linda Williamson Nelson to produce the 101 Black Elders Oral History Project. The project documents the lives of African-American seniors who were born and raised in Atlantic City or who moved here.

“They have ties and experiences in this city which will become a part of history. African Americans have played a major part in building Atlantic City and nobody can tell their story but them,” said Johnson. Working with the professors, 100 or more African-American seniors were interviewed by students. “The result is an astounding video, with pictures, narrative and audio illustrating the rich history of Atlantic City’s African-American elders,” Dorrington said.

The project and video were first presented at Dante Hall Theater of Stockton in fall 2016 and will be the centerpiece of the program on Saturday.

Live entertainment will be provided by Douglas Jennings, featuring Judah Dorrington & Lady Dee Sutton.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call Ivy Daniels at 609-641-8239; on Facebook: 101 Women Plus, Inc.