Little Rock's Philander Smith College celebrated its 140th anniversary during an elegant President's Scholarship Gala, held Sept. 29 in the Wally Allen Ballroom of the Statehouse Convention Center.
Guests, along with staff members, volunteers and students, dressed in attire reminiscent of the Jazz Age and Hollywood's silver-screen era, and feasted on a dinner whose main course was Italian stuffed chicken. Dinner music was provided by "Pi3ce entertainment" (pronounced "three piece"), made up of students Nathan Harvey, Robert Alison and San'Darius Gillespie.
Brittany Taylor, the reigning Miss Philander Smith College, welcomed attendees to a program that included several moving selections by the Philander Smith Collegiate Choir. Anniversary remarks came via Bishop Gary Mueller, Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church, and Sherece West-Scantlebury, chairman of the college's board of trustees. Sericia Cole, acting vice president for institutional advancement, spoke of "moving the legacy forward."
Highlighting the gala was the presentation of the evening's honorees. Herman L. Davis, national alumni association president, and Charles Donaldson were each honored with inaugural Legacy awards. Darnell Williams received an appreciation plaque for his service as executive vice president of the association and for his generosity as a donor. Student honorees were Debra Morris, winner of the $2,500 Young Women in Excellence Scholarship; Tia Barden and Jalen Warren, winners of $3,000 President's Scholarship Gala awards; and Pi3ce band member Harvey, winner of the $4,000 Ozell Sutton Endowed Scholarship.
Also during the program, Philander Smith president Roderick Smothers was presented with a framed commemorative gift by Russell R. Williams III, student government association president and Presidential Scholar.
The evening ended with dancing to the music of The Crossrhodes -- recording artist Raheem DeVaughn and his bandmate, Wes Felton.
The gala generated $450,000 to help deserving but underrepresented students with their college educations.
High Profile on 10/08/2017