Under the baobab: Community members recognized, remembered at MLK banquet

On Jan. 15, the Forum on Black Affairs (FOBA) celebrated Rev. Martin Luther King’s birthday with the 50th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Banquet at the Bryce Jordan Center. Presided over by Stephanie Danette Preston, the immediate past president of FOBA, nearly 1,000 people attended.

Interim Vice President and Provost Tracy Langkilde greeted everyone on behalf of the university. Seria Chatters, interim vice provost for educational equity; Levon T. Esters, vice provost and dean, J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School; and Evan Williams, director of the Paul Robeson Cultural Center, also spoke. Gary Abdullah Jr., the assistant dean for diversity and inclusion, Bellisario College of Communications, gave the benediction. Musical performances featured Jayden Nathaniel Adkins, Anisa Adkins, Naiby Perez, Ralph Real and Evan Buckner.

The Humanitarian Award was presented to Pamela Robb, a distinguished local leader and chair of the Patton Township Board of Supervisors. Robb was one of the 22 female veterans from across the commonwealth of Pennsylvania recently honored by Gov. Josh Shapiro. Earl Merritt, director of the Office of Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity in the College of Liberal Arts, presented Fannie Lou Hamer-W.E.B. DuBois Service Scholarships to PSU students Breneil Malcolm and Keia Jones.

One of the most spirit filled and touching moments of the evening came at the end. Darrin Thornton, associate dean for undergraduate education and teaching professor of music in the College of Arts and Architecture, presented a beautiful tribute to Anthony (Tony) Leach, founder of Essence of Joy Choir. Tony recently joined the ancestors. Essence came about 30 years ago, when organizers of the banquet asked then-graduate student Leach to put together a music program. He gathered together some of his colleagues to sing “freedom songs” which were adapted African American gospel hymns. After Tony was invited to join the School of Music faculty, he incorporated the process into a class and a permanent choir, Essence of Joy, which became internationally known, touring and performing on five continents.

The Africana Research Center held an open house in its new offices in the Sparks Building. Sherita Johnson, ARC’s new director, welcomed visitors and introduced the current postdoctoral fellows: Allison Mashell Mitchell, Lara-Stephanie Krause-Alzaidi and Phoebe Quaynor.

The Ziegler Preservation Awards of the Centre County Historical Society will be presented Sunday at the PA Match Factory in Bellefonte at 3 p.m. This year, according to a press release, recipients include: Liz Grove, Preservation and Restoration, for the restoration and reuse of the historic Old Oak Tavern, originally the Odd Fellows Lodge, in Pine Grove Mills built in 1900.

Potter Township Heritage Days Committee, History and Heritage, for planning and hosting a township-wide celebration for the 250th founding of Potter Township.

Bellefonte Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, Education and Advocacy, for their notable contribution to research, compile, and publish an extensive index to raise awareness of Centre County Soldiers and Patriots of the American Revolution.

Renea Nichols, Support and Volunteerism, for significant contributions to historic preservation in Centre County through her gifts of time, talent, and project leadership to numerous county historical organizations and efforts including the Bellefonte Union Cemetery, and Black History in Centre County.

Phillip Ruth, Jacqueline J. Melander Award, for the outstanding and long-term commitment to historic preservation activities in Centre County as an architectural and public historian through his leadership in several county historical organizations such as Bellefonte’s Historical Architectural Review Board, the Bellefonte Historical and Cultural Association, and the Roland Curtin Foundation.

Penn State Alumni Association, President’s Award, Penn State Historical Marker Program, for the preservation and interpretation of Centre County and Penn State history through the Penn State historical marker program totaling 68 historical markers on the University Park campus, and 17 at commonwealth campuses and other locations.

Stay strong, Sisters and Brothers.