Sorority to honor area's outstanding minority students
Mar. 30—More than 140 minority students from Meridian and the surrounding areas will be honored for their achievements Saturday at the Delta Nu Zeta, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc.'s annual Salute to Outstanding Minority Youth program.
Meridian Chapter President Vanessa Alford said the annual program recognizes outstanding students for their academic, athletic and extracurricular activities, as well as their involvement in the community. One of the sorority's biggest events of the year, she said, the program is on members favorite activities.
"We look forward to the program each year," she said.
First established in 1985, the Salute to Outstanding Minority Youth program is celebrating its 39th year, Alford said. This year's event will recognize 145 minority students from Meridian, West Lauderdale, Russell Christian Academy, Lamar School, Northeast, Southeast, Quitman, Clarkdale and more. Alford said the sorority works with school counselors and area churches, who nominate students they believe exemplify the qualities of outstanding minority students.
This year's event is set for 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 6, at the McCain Theater at Meridian Community College. Guest speaker at the event will be Sen. Rod Hickman, who represents District 32, including parts of Lauderdale, Kemper, Noxubee and Winston counties. A graduate of Noxubee County High School and the University of Mississippi, Hickman serves as vice chair of the Senate municipalities committee and is a member of the NAACP, Magnolia Bar Association, Mississippi Bar Association, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Shuqualak Action Group and more.
Anyone interested in participating in the Salute to Outstanding Minority Youth or sponsorship opportunities can contact Alford at 601-692-4313.
Students chosen for this year's Salute to Outstanding Minority Youth program include:
Bay Springs High School
Te'Airra Jones
Katlyn Lewis
Summer Love
Janyia Moncrief
Rodderick Satcher
Choctaw County High School
Jerome Blanks, Jr
Jasmine Dubose
Johnny Grice Jr.
Amonaraye Kelly
Tyanna O'Field
Mondrel Poellnitz
Clarkdale High School
Elisa Cook
Zaria Evans
Trinton Nash
Golden Triangle Early College High School
Kamya Parks
Heidelburg High School
D'Khristyn Halton
Christian Jones
Aveion Leverett
Aniyah Pierce
Lamar School
Nyla Ahmed
Daniel Baah
Jonathan Hart
Mallory Smith
Meridian High School
JyZalon Alford
Tayvion Allen
Taleah Anderson
Ti'Ryiah Boler
Kasiannah Bradley
Paradice Brantley
Kalifa Brookshire
Bralli Brown
Eilecia Brown
Mya Brown
Jaterrious Chaney
Brooke Bolucci
Sabrina Davis
Kimora Edwards
Teyonce Emerson
Keotis Fountain
Kenaysha Gale
Darieon Gibson
Timia Graham
Rhayla Hampton
Adarrius Hanible
Jaylen Harvey
Shaneeda Hibbler
Valensia Hill
Bradley Hooks
Brittani Houston
I'terrious Hunter
Olivia Ivy
Kyia Jasper
Ta'Quarius Jones
Zamauri King
Samiya Lewis
Frederick Liddell
Alexxia May
Amiyah Mclendon
Deriana Mcelon
Madison McNeely
Elijah McPhee
Terrence Moore
Legend Nave
Zandresha Neal
Ieshia Ott
Isiah Ott
Derek Rom
Ricarriyah Rush
Ja'Myiah Thigpen
Danetra Thomas
Takayla Thomas
Anaiyah Toole
JaMarcus Towner
Shamiah Wallace
Kentrell Winkfield
Mississippi School for Math and Science
Cheniya Nicholson
Kaydence Patton
Newton Municipal High School
Ke'Shawn Covington
De'Asia Cox
Iyanna Donald
Hannah Hardaway
Sasha Harris
Ja'Mazia Johnson
Isyss Jones
Jacoby Jones
Kalaeja Jones
Samaria Johnes
Jaquari Lindsey
Te'Quiera Moppins
Emmanuel Robinson
Jatelynn Robinson
Dashayla Russell
Samyia Sanders
Corey Taylor
Corrie Tibbs
Daylen Ware
Alazia Wheaton
Newton County High School
Claudia Allen
Z'Keriya Bender
Josh Bender
Kimari Brown
Patrick Clemmons
Lillian Coleman
Aaliyah Dawkins-Allen
DyAsia Lampkin
Bobby Little
Makiyu Manuel
I'yana Moore
Madalyn Oliphant
Miracle Skinner
Jeremiah Thames
Northeast High School
Courtney Bourrage II
Ja'Miyah Campbell
Jeremiah Clark
Nehemiah Clark
Kendall Clay
Gemira Colvin
Sidarius Goines
Ashley Jackson
Nick McCoy
Caitlin Thomas
Braylen Tingle
Quitman High School
Jamei McGhee
Aaliyah Nixon
Chanclyn Parks
Jamari Price
Nykeria Watson
Ridgeland High School
Shelby Hopkins
Russell Christian Academy
Joseph Bolton
Southeast High School
Laura Bell
Martez Burton
Cristiana Hopson
Tyquitana Rogers
Kadejah Whitted
Sumter Central High School
Jamiyah Drummond
Kelsea Dubose
Tabriah Harris
Jatavian Wallace
Xavier Woodard
West Lauderdale High School
Jalen Brown
Kendrell Brown
Aniya Buxton
Chance Evins
Kayleigh McQuarters
Madison Mosley
Hanna Russell
The Salute to Outstanding Minority Students was established in 1985 to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Meridian chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. The program is also held in celebration of Finer Womanhood, a national observance of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc.
Founded Dec. 17, 1950, Delta Nu Zeta Chapter, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. has been committed to community service.
Delta Nu Zeta participates and has participated in the March of Dimes, The American Cancer Society's Relay For Life, St. Jude, Women Veterans Rock, Meridian's Martin Luther King Jr. Parade, voter registration drives, Wesley House and LOVE's Kitchen. The chapter is a member of the Meridian Museum of Art where it hosts its annual Black History Program. The chapter also awards scholarships each year.
Contact Thomas Howard at thoward@themeridianstar.com
