College sophomore Drake Hall graduated from Webster Groves High School with a 3.8 grade point average. Because of his grades, he was inundated with college options. He chose to attend Harris-Stowe State University not only because it was close to home, but he was offered the Henry Givens Jr. Scholarship, which, covered his tuition, books, fees and room and board.
Now, a sophomore who serves as a residence hall assistant, Hall is considered one of HSSU’s bright and shining stars, as he continues to excel academically. He will bring the occasion at this year’s scholarship ceremony, an annual tradition that highlights university donors and showcases students who will be financially rewarded for their educational achievements.
Marguerite Bieler Notorangelo, who grew up on a dairy farm in Ferguson, Missouri, graduated from Harris Teachers College in 1940. Realizing at a very young age that she wanted to be a teacher, Harris was the perfect choice for her, as it was considered the best option for aspiring educators during that time. While at Harris, she played basketball and joined a sorority. She was hired as a teacher by the St. Louis Public Schools and later by the Ferguson-Florissant School District.
At Notorangelo’s 90th birthday party, she was honored with a scholarship in her name – The Marguerite Bieler Notorangelo Educators Scholarship – for students majoring in teacher education at Harris-Stowe State University.
In 2010, Marguerite’s husband, Anthony Notorangelo, donated $25,000 to HSSU to establish the renewable scholarship, and each year since the contribution, one student has received $3,000 per semester.
Donor Gwendolyn Downs never attended college, but she and her husband Roger have always deemed education an important part of an individual’s success. Based on criteria that she and her family set, she annually gives to HSSU via two scholarships that she established in two of her brother-in-law’s names. Additionally, she takes it one step further and donates a car every two years to a deserving single mother who is working toward her bachelor’s degree.
The need for committed donors like the Notorangelo and Downs family is now greater than ever before, as overall college fundraising – especially at Historically Black Colleges and Universities – is struggling due to the economy. More than 93 percent of HSSU students rely on some form of financial aid, therefore, raising additional funds to assist students with matriculating and persisting through college is a major university priority. Implementing new tuition structures, such as offering up to 16 credit hours for the same rate as a 12 credit-hour load helps students take more classes without added expenses and eventually graduate faster.
Corporations such as Anheuser-Busch and Peabody Energy have been long-time supporters of the award ceremony, as well as entities such as the HSSU Alumni Association and the Fox Family Foundation.
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Food festival for scholarships
The Hazelwood School District PTA Council is hosting its second annual food festival, Taste of North County. The event will take place on Saturday, April 20 from 12 to 3 p.m. at Hazelwood Central High School, located at 15875 New Halls Ferry Road, in Florissant.
Participants will be able to taste an array of samples from a variety of restaurants located throughout North County. There will be live performances during the event by HSD student groups. All proceeds from this event will benefit the HSD PTA Council Scholarship Committee to support scholarship funds for graduating seniors.
The cost is $10 for adults; $5 per child (4-13 years old); free admission for children (3 years old and younger).
If you have a restaurant or catering company and wish to be a vendor at this event, please contact Steven Cook at teachsc@yahoo.com or Sonia Smith at iam4real73@sbcglobal.net.
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Job fair for certified teachers
St. Louis Public School District is hosting a job fair for certified teachers Saturday, April 20, 8–10 a.m. with interviews running 10:15 a.m. -3:15 p.m. at the Gateway Complex, #4 Gateway Dr.
Candidates will need a Bachelor’s Degree or higher and Missouri Certification or Proof of Eligibility for Certification. Applicants are encouraged to bring multiple copies of their resume, certification, and/or passing Praxis scores.
The district anticipates more than 350 teaching vacancies for the 2013-2014 academic school year.Â
Pre-Registration for the job fair is requested and can be done online by visiting www.slps.org/hiringfair. For more information, contact the St. Louis Public School District’s Human Resources Division at 314-345-2295.
For certificated teachers who are unable to attend the Job Fair, but are interested in obtaining a teaching position, applications are being accepted online by visiting www.slps.org/careers.
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Career Fair ExtravaganzaÂ
Northside Youth And Senior Service Center, Inc. is hosting the 2nd Annual Job & Career Fair on April 24 at the Taylor Science Center, located at 4900 Manchester, from 10 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Job seekers are encouraged to bring several copies of their resumes, to dress professionally and to be prepared for on-the-spot interviews by prospective employers. Employers and job seekers requiring more information may contact Florence Coleman at 314-531-4161 or visit www.nsyssc.com.
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Salary negotiation workshop
YWCA Metro St. Louis is hosting a salary negotiation workshop on Saturday, April 27. Registration opens at 9:30 a.m. and the workshop is from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. It will be held at the YWCA Metro St. Louis, 3820 West Pine Blvd. on the campus of Saint Louis University. The interactive workshop is designed to give women the confidence and skills needed to reenter the workforce and earn fair compensation. The workshop is free but space is limited. Register online at www.ywcastlouis.org/empowerment-ReturnSmart or call 531-1115.
