2008 BLACK SAGA COMPETITION PRESS RELEASE
Awards Banquet for Winners of 2008 Maryland State Black Saga Competition Showcases Top Honorees
(Baltimore, MD) -- It was touted, “An Evening to Remember,” when the winners of the 2008 Maryland State Black Saga Competition beamed as they strolled to the front of the large room to accept their awards at a banquet specifically honoring them on Sunday, April 27, 2008, at the University of Maryland University College Marriott Inn and Conference Center in Adelphi, MD. More than 60 students who were winners of the Maryland State Black Saga Competition on March 15 at Towson University in Baltimore, MD proudly received their awards for being among the ten top elementary and middle school teams in the State of Maryland who know the most about the African-.American experience.
Students cheerfully joined their parents and teachers who helped them master the learning of almost a thousand questions and answers about the African-American experience, including people, places, events and words of wisdom. Many students studied a full year to be a part of this notably, rigorous Competition and to be invited to its most rewarding event.
According to Dr. Charles Christian, Distinguished Professor at Coppin State University in Baltimore, MD and acclaimed founder and host of the Black Saga Competition, “this awards banquet is our way of thanking the children for their hard work, dedication, and masterful teamwork. It’s a way of telling the winners that we care about what they learn because they will be our future leaders. It’s also our way of showing our appreciation to the teachers and parents who played such a significant role in helping their children learn this material.
“This is something they will cherish for the rest of their lives,” he said. “When you can make someone’s world a better place, and when you can keep Dr. King’s dream alive and move it closer toward reality, you can’t help but feel good inside. Further, to be surrounded by wonderful people who are working toward the same goals makes it all worthwhile.”
An important highlight of the evening occurred when Dr. Christian was acknowledged by Baltimore County schoolteacher Julia Hinton-Van Hook, as the recipient of the 2008 Carter G. Woodson Memorial Award from the National Education Association (NEA). The NEA is an organization made up of 3.2 million public school educators nationwide.
The Carter G. Woodson Memorial Award is a national honor presented to an individual whose activities in Black affairs have made a significant impact on education and on the achievements of equal opportunity.
In addition to this outstanding event of the evening, the elementary and middle school champions each received trophies, certificates and a $300 cash award. Teams winning in second and third place in their elementary and middle school competitions received cash prizes of $200 and $100, respectively. “These are some of the brightest students in our Maryland schools and they will soon be assets to college and university campuses throughout the country, said Dr. Christian. Maryland has a great opportunity to be a critical part of their early educational planning by helping them make choices early about attending college.
Montgomery College, one of the largest community colleges in Maryland and one of the best in the nation, stepped up to the plate by awarding college scholarships to three team members from A. Mario Loiederman Middle School in Montgomery County. The students are Caroline Bruel, Aliyah DeVille, and Kyle Louviere.
Teachers and teacher coordinators whose school have been in the Competition for the past three years were also honored. They received plaques for their dedication and hard work that allowed their respective teams of students to have competitive knowledge of the African-American experience.
The banquet was a festive celebration, with good food and great entertainment for more than 275 attendees. Dr. Lenneal Henderson, Distinguished Professor at the University of Baltimore in Baltimore City, was the Master of Ceremonies for this event. Three of Morgan State University’s most versatile young and upcoming entertainers performed and provided the audience the kind of motivation that support the Black Saga Competition. Anthony Tyler and Chynae Walker took attendees back in time by singing short versions of songs by famous African Americans such as Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Fats Waller, Chuck Berry, Mahalia Jackson, Sammy Davis, Jr., Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, and the Supremes. Samantha Master recited a soul-searching poem she wrote titled, “Black Saga.”
Enriching the audience with their exceptional upbeat music were 16 students from Paint Branch Elementary School in Prince George’s County, MD under the direction of Wentworth Richardson. The Tropical Breeze Steel Band Orchestra played melodies such as “The Beautiful Blue Danube” by Johann Strauss and “The Prayer” by Yolanda Adams and Donnie McClurkin.
The Black Saga Competition is among the most sought after competition by students in many schools throughout the Baltimore/Washington metropolitan areas and throughout Maryland. If offers elementary and middle school students, of all races, an opportunity to learn about a very important part of American history -- the African-American experience.