WS Chronicle

Since 2005 Triad Cultural Arts, Inc. has invited the community to come together and celebrate “Freedom Day” or Juneteenth, the national holiday that commentates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in the United States, with the annual Juneteenth Celebration. This year TCA is adding something new to the celebration, the Queen Juneteenth Scholarship Pageant. 

The Juneteenth Celebration hosted by TCA draws hundreds of people to the area from across the state each year to reflect and celebrate the tiled and contributions African Americans have made to enrich society. The festival includes dozens of vendors, performances, food, health displays and information sessions, a fashion show, arts and crafts for children, and several motivational speakers. Cheryl Harry, founder and CEO of Triad Cultural Arts, said the idea for the pageant was brought to her by Dr. Stephanie Hurt, founder of the Royal Curtain Drama Guild. 

Harry said adding the pageant to the annual celebration is about growth and getting young people involved.

“I think it was an evolution … We wanted to take it to another level,” said Harry while discussing the pageant last week. “There was a desire to get more young people involved in the Juneteenth Celebration … and we thought this was an excellent way to do it and we’re very glad to be a part of this.” 

The Queen Juneteenth Scholarship Pageant is open to rising juniors in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School (WS/FCS) system, who have a 2.5 GPA or higher, and plan to attend a HBCU. 

When discussing the criteria for the pageant, Dr. Hurt said the HBCU requirement was important to ensure the legacy of Black colleges and universities continues. “Being a part of the HBCU experience is really a major, major part of what we’re doing and I’m really excited about that because we have to make sure that we keep thriving.”

The Queen Juneteenth Pageant will be held on June 11 at 6:30 p.m. at Paisley Magnet School. 

Leading up to the pageant, contestants will be required to participate in workshops that will be managed by members of the “Queen’s Council,” a collection of more that a dozen women from throughout the community who have volunteered to serve as mentors for the contestants. According to Hurt, the workshops will focus on preparing contestants for college life.

“There will be different workshops that will be managed by our council members and some of the other participants in our city on etiquette, leadership, finances … just how to be the best college student that they can be,” Hurt continued. “They’re going to get several workshops to participate in to professionally develop as a young person and be ready to run right off into college and excel.” 

WS/FCS Superintendent Tricia McManus said she is excited about the pageant and grateful for those who are making it possible. She said it’s critical that the community knows and understands Juneteenth and what it represents. “It is a critical time in African American culture and to be able to have a young woman, one of our students, receive this honor is going to be very special to us,” McManus said. 

For more information on the Queen Juneteenth Scholarship Pageant visit https://triadculturalarts.org/index.php/queen-juneteenth-scholarship/.