January 25, 2006

Published in Wake Forest, NC

            Many of the group gathered for food and fellowship at 6 p.m. at the DuBois Center and were joined at 7 p.m. for the formal program, “Unity and the Dream.”

            “The United States has a long, long history of hatred,” Kus, the pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, said. That hatred has led to unequal laws and the unequal application of laws, a process which continues today and includes those who mask their hatred by wrapping themselves in American flags.

            Martin Luther King Jr. is “a shining star in a constellation of stars” that includes Thomas Merton, Mother Teresa and Gandhi who battle hatred, Kus said. But they are “only milestones on the long and torturous journey” in battling hatred.

            How can we combat hatred? We need to recognize it, Kus said, and we must insist that everyone be treated with respect “because they are the children of God.”

            One of the highlights of the evening was the presentation of the Distinguished Service Award to Mary Evelyn Jones. Dr. Gene McLeod, one of the committee organizing the event, said Jones was “born to love and serve.”

            Jones, who was a teacher assistant in Wake Forest schools for 26 years and was instrumental in integrating the schools in 1970, has continued her passion for teaching by establishing the tutorial program at the center. It was recently named for her. She has been the Sunday school superintendent at her church, Olive Branch Baptist Church, for 30 years, was one of the founders in 1982 of the DuBois Alumni Association, and in 1995 was named one of North Carolina’s Notable Women.

            The Freddy Greene Trio with Greene on soprano saxophone entertained between various segments of the program and had everyone clapping with a spirited, jazzy rendition of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.”

            Bary Hayes announced the winners of the various contests open to all children in Wake Forest schools, and Lori Moss gave the winners their certificates.

            Those winners are:

Art Contest:

            Elementary school, kindergarten and first grades:

            1^st, Carter Gillespie, kindergarten, Wake Forest

            2^nd, Caden Kennedy, kindergarten, Wake Forest

            3^rd, Hannah Shaw, kindergarten, Wake Forest

            Elementary school, second and third grades:

            1^st, Emma Xu, third grade, Rolesville

            2^nd, Rachel Wilson, second grade, Jones Dairy

            3^rd, Elizabeth Miller, second grade, Wake Forest

            Elementary school, fourth and fifth grades:

            1^st, Hunter Woodlief, fifth grade, Franklin Academy

            2^nd, Jessica Graham, fourth grade, Franklin Academy

            3^rd, Jennifer Daria, fourth grade, Jones Dairy

            Middle school:

            1^st, Felicia Fotsch, seventh grade, Franklin Academy

            2^nd, Voulitsa Koloustroubis, seventh grade, Franklin Academy

            3^rd, Megan Mauterer, eighth grade, Franklin Academy

            For the high school division, Hayes said the judging was very close, leading to two students being recognized for honorable mention.

            1^st, Billy Vosburg, eleventh grade, Wake Forest-Rolesville

            2^nd, Corinne Alford, tenth grade, WF-R

            3^rd, Winnie Gwakol, eleventh grade, WF-R

            Honorable mention, both at WF-R, Sergia Mullen and Alex Mussler

Writing Contest:

            Elementary school, first through third grades:

            1^st – 3^rd, Kellie Faison, Heritage

            Elementary school, fourth grade:

            1^st, Paige Hamerka, fourth grade, St. Catherine of Siena

            2^nd, Joseph Howerton, fourth grade, Jones Dairy

            3^rd, Blake Hunsaker, fourth grade, St. Catherine of Siena

            Elementary school, fifth grade:

            1^st, Zach Braswell, fifth grade, Jones Dairy

            2^nd, Graham Farris, fifth grade, St. Catherine of Siena

            3^rd, Kayla Lyon, fifth grade, Wake Forest

            High school, ninth and tenth grades:

            1^st, Dylan Fields, tenth grade, WF-R

            2^nd, Nicole Schmeer, ninth grade, WF-R

            3^rd, Jason O’Connor, tenth grade, WF-R

            High school, eleventh and twelfth grades:

            1^st, Hallie Craft, eleventh grade, WF-R

            2^nd, Nicholas Stutts, eleventh grade, WF-R

            3^rd, Dori Lucas, eleventh grade, WF-R

Creative Performance, High School Division:

            1^st, Corinne Alford, tenth grade, WF-R    

            2^nd, Joshua Jackson, ninth grade, Franklin Academy

            1^st, Kolby Kugyk, eleventh grade, WF-R

            2^nd, Shawn Tamborini, eleventh grade, WF-R

Creative Performance, Wake Forest Resident Division:

            1^st, Ashley Mills, twelfth grade.