Illinois Wesleyan to Host 12th Annual Minority Recognition Ceremony

June 26, 2003

On Sunday, June 29, minority honor roll students in grades 5-12 from 25 Bloomington-Normal area schools will be recognized for their academic achievements in a 4 p.m. ceremony. The program will be held at Illinois Wesleyan University’s Shirk Center, 302 E. Emerson St., Bloomington.

African-Americans, Latinos, Asians and Native Americans will be among the students recognized at the event, which is sponsored by The Pantagraph, State Farm Insurance Companies and Illinois Wesleyan. The Illinois Farm Bureau, County Insurance and Financial Services, and Growmark, Inc. will also be sponsoring the program, as well as the Jewel Food Store on Oakland Ave., and CEFCU.

IWU Acting President and Provost Janet McNew and Neighbor-to-Neighbor Executive Director Barbara Malone will open the program, which will begin with special remarks by Sylvia Browning, director of diversity and inclusion at State Farm Insurance Companies, and Rishi Bhayana of the Illinois Math and Science Academy.

The guest speaker will be Ms. Frances Bush of Union Baptist Missionary Church. Bush’s speech will be followed with the presentation of awards by McNew, Malone, inspirational vocalist Sharyl Jennings, Neighbor-to-Neighbor board member Yvonne C. Jones, and Henry Bird, publisher of The Pantagraph, who will also make the closing remarks.

Sheryl Jennings and Treyce Spears will each perform a musical selection during the event, which will also feature booths set up by Neighbor-to-Neighbor, Illinois Wesleyan University, State Farm Insurance Companies, the Normal Public Library, Old Country Buffett, Catholic Charities, and 4-H Federation.

A reception will immediately follow the conclusion of the program.