Program Success Christian Reader September 2007 | Page 17

The Christian Reader September 2007 17
“Celebrating Our Journey of Educations
and Community Service”
EDWARD WATERS COLLEGE HOST NATIONAL ALUMNI CONVENTION
By Marretta Latimer
Guest Columnist
Jacksonville, Florida
The City of Jacksonville became “Tiger Country” this weekend as the
graduates of Edward Waters College (EWC) hosted the 2007 Biannual
National Alumni Convention. Dressed in the college’s colors, orange
and purple, hundreds of alums came from as far as Alaska and Illinois
to preserve the institution’s history and plan for its future. The
conference’s theme, “Celebrating Our Journey of Education and
Community Service,” showcased the goal of the alumni association:
continuing EWC’s legacy of providing a quality education for
deserving youth.
around the college’s campus. He stated, “We have begun a renaissance
at Edward Waters College. The alumni and the institution are
rejuvenated under the direction of the new College President, Dr.
Claudette Williams.”
A highlight of the conference was the 2007 Alumni Banquet, where
four outstanding members of the community were honored for their
contributions to Edward Waters College and Northeast Florida. The
honorees were Patricia Black for the fine arts, the Honorable Corrine
Brown for support of the community-at-large, Dr. Ezekiel Bryant for
education, and Dr. Roy Mitchell for leadership. Dr. Bryant said, “I
was honored to receive this recognition and commend the leadership
of
the
National
A l u m n i
Convention
Association.
a t t e n d e e s
There is a
enjoyed
a
bright future
weekend
of
for
EWC
“business
and
under
the
pleasure” with a
dynamic
number
of
leadership of
e x c i t i n g
the
new
activities,
C o l l e g e
including
the
President, Dr.
o p e n i n g
Claudette
reception at the
Williams.
C u m m e r
EWC was, for
Museum and the
me, a bridge
Hawaiian luau at
over troubled
the
Clarion
waters back in
Hotel. They also
January 1951
participated in a
when
I
series of plenary
received my
sessions where
AA degree. It
the
EWC
can continue
National Alumni
to offer the
Association
Photo By Jay Baker s a m e
Endowment was
opportunities
Pictured left to right are the newly elected EWC National Alumni Association Officers for the
named in honor
for
others.”
2007-09 biennium: (front row) president, Marguerite Warren; vice president, Juliet Fields;
of Dr. William B.
executive secretary, Linda Sue Holmes; EWC College President, Dr. Claudette Williams;
Stewart,
the
The
financial
secretary, Claudette Elps; chaplain, Carrie DeJournett; parliamentarian, Levi Bell;
C o l l e g e
weekend
of
(back row) recording secretary, Jacqueline Nash; treasurer, Charles Moore.
President who
“ T i g e r ”
served
for
activities
twenty-two years and is credited with leading EWC from a junior
closed with the National Alumni Association’s election of new
college to a four-year institution. Juliet Fields, the newly elected vice
leadership for the 2007-2009 biennium. The new officers include:
president of the National Alumni Association, noted, “I think we have
president, Marguerite Warren; vice president, Juliet Fields; treasurer,
been successful and are on the right track to garnering support for
Charles Moore; executive secretary, Linda Sue Holmes; recording
EWC. We can make a significant difference.”
secretary, Jacqueline Nash; financial secretary, Claudette Elps;
chaplain, Carrie DeJournett; parliamentarian, Levi Bell. Marguerite
The gathering of EWC graduates was not the only cause for
Warren added, “We are excited about the future. The possibilities for
celebration. According to Dr. Roy Mitchell, immediate past president
our alma mater are limitless. Tigers [not lions] are, after all, ‘kings of
of the National Alumni Association, there is a spirit of excitement
the jungle.’”