WS Chronicle

For years the Ministers’ Conference of Winston-Salem and Vicinity (MCWSV) has been sowing into the lives of the young people of Forsyth County.  On June 28, the organization held its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship awards banquet at Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church, awarding 11 young people scholarships to further their education.

To date the conference has donated well over $200,000 in scholarships throughout the years. 

The Chronicle has donated funds from its  Martin Luther King Jr. Day breakfast for the scholarships at least the last three years.

Bishop Todd Fulton, chairman of the MLK Jr. Scholarship board, says it is inspiring to see all of the young people going on to bigger and better things.

The 11 scholarship award winners are: Alvin Eugene Carlise, Nyhanna Elaine Covington, Darren Sanchez Crump, Maya Jamil Futrell, Tiara Mone’t Jarrett, Caniah D’avion Lentz, Rodaysha Leunna McCallum, Jewel Emmanuel Moser, Autumn Denise Peppers, Venay Essense Wilkins and Gretia Jamilah Yancey.

The speaker for the evening was Catrina Thompson, chief of police of Winston-Salem, who spoke to the young people about her humble beginnings along with the “village” of people to helped her along the way.  Tears began to roll for Thompson as she touched on all of the people that helped her along the way.

“I believe the young people of our community are truly our future,” said Thompson.  “My inspiration comes from my background because I had a praying grandmother and an uneducated grandfather who understood the value of education.”

“While my sisters and I could get away with anything, we could not miss a day of school because he did not have the opportunity to have an education.  Everything I do, I do because of the sacrifices that I know were made by my grandfather and grandmother.”

Thompson went on to say that since someone reached back to help her, it is her responsibility to reach back and do the same for someone else.  At the end of her message, Thompson has pledged to donate $1,000 toward next year’s MLK Jr. Scholarship fund.

Thompson says organizations such as the MCWSV are so vital because of everything that is going on around the country and beyond.  She feels it is everyone’s responsibility to empower the young people to be as successful as they possibly can be.

“It is our obligation to give them the tools they need to make sure that we have a safe country, a safe city and a safe community to live in,” said Thompson.

Fulton says he is happy to have two African-American males receive scholarships.  Fulton stated he would love to see more males applying for the scholarship in future years. 

“I am very blessed and I am happy to receive this scholarship and it’s just something that will help me to continue working hard,” said Darren Crump.  “I want to give back to my home state and show people that I can do something and be somebody.

“The conference is very important because it encourages kids to get out there and work hard to achieve their goals in life,” he continued.

Alvin Eugene Carlisle added, “This makes me very happy because it is a representation of my achievements over the years.  My biggest aspiration with my educational opportunities is to improve myself so that I can improve others that have helped me along the way. 

“Organizations like the Minister’s Conference and The Chronicle are wildly important, especially for people of populations that are less privileged or marginalized.  They play a very vital role in our communities.”