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FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com MARCH 3, 2016 • THE QUEENS COURIER 11 Award celebration at York College honors Black History Month BY BRIANNA ELLIS editorial@qns.com @QueensCourier Scholars and community members were honored for their outstanding contributions during the 2016 Black History Month celebration that Queens Borough President Melinda Katz and the African-American Heritage Committee held on Feb. 23 at York College in Jamaica. Nine scholarship award winners were announced and assembled on stage. The recipients were recognized for their stellar essays and 90-plus grade point averages, earning them each $1,000 toward their college education. The scholars included Cedoni Francis of Forest Hills High School; Vasiki Konneh and Cheyenne Traill of Queens Vocational and Technical High School; Nia Cayenne of Bard High School Early College; Maya Terry of Poly Prep Country Day School; Florence Odigie of Scholars Academy; Albert Yeboa of John Bowne High School; and Rakia Islam of the Baccalaureate School for Global Studies. Notable community leaders and professionals were also recognized for their dedication toward making Southeast Queens a better place. Katz presented Bishop Charles Norris, Sr. of the Bethesda Missionary Baptist Church, with the Queens Borough President’s Award. Bishop Dr. Michael A. Baston, who possesses three doctoral degrees in law and education, was given the Clergy Award by Pastor John H. Boyd. Donna Clopton, a retired president of the 103rd Precinct Community Council, received the Civic Award Individual from presenter Marc A. Haken. Principal Patricia A. Mitchell of P.S. 48 obtained the Education Award from presenter Cedric Dew. The late William Nelson, whose community involvement left a major impact, was posthumously honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Business owners Annette and Noel Runcie of Pa-Nash Euro Soul Restaurant and Lounge attained the Business Award. Retired NYPD Detective Alvin O. Stevens, who runs a karate program, received the Sports Award. Lastly, Veteran news anchor Cheryl Wills of NY1, was presented with the Journalism Award. Wills discussed the importance of receiving great recognition in her borough: “An event like this, honoring me with the Journalism Award, it’s huge. I thought it was such a beautiful honor for being such a native Queens girl…I do receive a lot of honors but there’s nothing like when you’re home.” The celebration included two opening performances by singer Katrina Henry. Henry’s Operatic voice echoed throughout the faculty dining room, as she belted out “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and “The Star- Spangled Banner.” Then, Andrew P. Jackson (Sekou Molefi Baako), a member of the Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center and the Queens Library and chair of the African American Heritage Committee, followed by Katz. An emphatic spoken word performance was expressed by poet Alexis Marie, who recited two heart-wrenching poems that emphasized African-American sufferings and racial differences. She was followed by the York College/CUNY Jazz Ensemble, led by Dr. Thomas Zlabinger, which filled the room with soft jazz jingles. Great rates like ours are always in season. 1.50% 36-Month CD APY1 $5,000 minimum deposit 1.30% 24-Month CD APY1 $5,000 minimum deposit To qualify you must open a Flushing Bank Complete Checking Plus account. Get the complete access and control you desire with a competitive interest rate and banking on-the-go with our Flushing Bank Mobile2 app. For more information and to find out about our other great offers, visit your local Flushing Bank branch, call 800.581.2889 or visit www.FlushingBank.com. 1 New money only. APY effective February 12, 2016. Annual percentage yield assumes principal and interest remain on deposit for a full year at current rate. Minimum deposit balance of $5,000 is required. Funds cannot be transferred from an existing Flushing Bank account. Premature withdrawals may be subject to bank and IRS penalties. Rates and offer are subject to change without notice. A new Complete Checking Plus account with a $5,000 minimum initial deposit is required to receive the CD with the advertised rate. Certain fees and restrictions may apply. For new IRA and rollover accounts, the minimum deposit balance is $5,000. A new checking account is not required for IRA accounts. Speak with a Flushing Bank representative for more details. 2 Flushing Bank Mobile Banking is available to all Flushing Bank online banking users. Flushing Bank is a registered trademark


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