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NAACP to hold Freedom Fund Dinner

Event is Saturday at The Calvin House

DUNCANSVILLE — The Blair County Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People will hold its annual Freedom Fund Dinner at 6 p.m. Saturday at The Calvin House.

The guest speaker will be Andrae M. Holsey, a sophomore at Penn State Altoona, who is pursuing a bachelor of arts degree in international politics-national security, with minors in political science and military studies.

Enlisting in the U.S. Army Reserve in October 2016, Pfc. Holsey trains in Cumberland, Md., with the 372nd Military Police Company, 400th Military Police Battalion, 333rd Military Police Brigade.

He completed basic combat training with C1-79 Field Artillery Battalion at Fort Sill, Okla., in July 2017.

Joining ROTC his freshman year of college, Holsey has served as a team leader and supply noncommissioned officer for all of D Company.

After his time with Penn State, Holsey hopes to commission as an armor officer in the Army’s active duty component.

Dinner is a choice of stuffed chicken breast, orange roughy or vegetarian. Tickets are $40 per person or $320 for a table of eight.

Reservations are due by Wednesday by calling 942-1126 or 944-5390.

“We would like to thank our corporate sponsors and the wonderful people of Blair County for their support,” said Don Witherspoon, president of the Blair County Chapter of NAACP.

The chapter will present the following awards and scholarships at the dinner:

n The Maya Angelou Scholar-ship will be presented to Tyrone Area High School’s Molly Harris. The award is sponsored by Sam’s Club, Altoona Wal-Mart, Coco Cola Bottling and The DeGol Family Foundation.

n The Martin Luther King Scholarship will be presented to Tyrone Area High School’s RaShawn and Jamal Hicks. It is sponsored by Guy Landolfi, Benzel’s Bakery and Pepsi Cola Bottling.

n The Ida B. Wells Scholarship will be presented to Altoona Area High School’s Sarah Corso. It is sponsored by Reliance Bank, Altoona Curve and Altoona First Savings Bank.

n Frederick Douglas Scholar-ship to Altoona Area High School’s Coby Bernhart-Horton. The award is sponsored by Navaco Industries, Dean Patterson and TL Carwash.

n The Barbara Jordan Scholar-ship will be presented to Altoona Area High School’s Kayley Burke. It is sponsored by HealthSouth, the Altoona Mirror and Atlantic Broadband.

n The Sojourner Truth Scholarship will be awarded to Altoona Area High School’s Kendra Fortson. It is sponsored by Sheetz Inc., M&T Bank of Altoona and the Beard Law Firm.

n The Dr. Burrell Brown Scholarship will be presented to Altoona Area High School’s Keshauna Franklin. It is sponsored by UPMC, NPC Inc., Little Caesars and Doug Madden Contracting.

n The Harriet Tubman Scholarship will be awarded to Altoona Area High School’s Vanessa Gil. It is sponsored by Prime Sirloin Buffet, Wal-Mart East Freedom and Hippo, Flem-ing and Pertile Law Office.

n The Thurgood Marshall Scholarship will be presented to Altoona Area High School’s Jesse Hamilton. It is sponsored by Burgmeier’s Hauling and Wal-Mart Distribution Center of Bedford.

n The Mary McLeod Bethune Scholarship will be presented to Altoona Area High School’s Isabella Harpster. It is sponsored by First Commonwealth Bank, KFC and Peoples Natural Gas.

n The Rosa Parks Scholarship will be presented to Altoona Area High School’s Natalie Holsey. It is sponsored by Holsey Lawn Care, Blair County Community Action Agency and Rose and Steve Cokrlic of 29th Street Pizza, Subs and More.

n The Dr. Daniel Hale Williams Scholarship will be presented to Altoona Area High School’s John Keating, sponsored by Red Lobster, Olive Garden and Small Tube Products Inc.

n The Julian Bond Scholarship will be presented to Altoona Area High School’s Elizabeth Manley, sponsored by US Foods, the Bavarian Aid Society and DiAndrea Media.

n The President Barack Obama Scholarship will be awarded to Altoona Area High School’s Jarod Marasco, sponsored by McDon-ald’s, Leonard S. Fiore, Operation Our Town and Nardo’s Cafe.

n The W.E.B. Dubois Scholar-ship will be presented to Altoona Area High School’s Kayla Rosas. It is sponsored by Pal Mino’s Pizza, Pizza Hut and Courtesy Motors.

n The Ruby Bridges Scholar-ship will be presented to Altoona Area High School’s Andrea Scott. It is sponsored by JC Penney Co., Cracker Barrel and Best Way Pizza.

n The Nelson Mandela Scholar-ship will be awarded to Altoona Area High School’s Kharizma Thompkins. It is sponsored by the Central Blair Recreation Com-mission, the Booker T. Washing-ton Revitalization Corporation and the Central Pennsylvania Community Foundation.

n The Whyatt Mondesire Scholarship will be presented to Altoona Area High School’s Noah Zolnak. It is sponsored by Copy Rite, Wendy’s and Norfolk Southern.

n The Community Service Award will be presented to Ashley Day. It is sponsored by the Altoona Police Department, Blair County NAACP and the Department of Community Development at Martin’s Foods.

n The Humanitarian Award to Jalonda Carr, sponsored by Tom Dickey Law Office, Penn Crest Bank and Modern Cabinet and Construction Co., Inc.

n The Doug West Outstanding Basketball Player Award and the AAHS Football Player of the Year Award will be presented to Jayvion Queen. It is sponsored by the Port Foundation, Mike’s Court and DeGol Carpeting.

n The NAACP also will honor the Division 2 State Champion Bellwood Girls Basketball Team, sponsored by DelGrosso Foods, Bellwood Area High School and Hampton Inn.

n The Woman of the Year Award will be presented to Blair County Judge Jackie Bernard, sponsored by Hoss’s Steak and Sea House, Target and Marzoni’s Brick Oven & Brewing Co.

n The NAACP also congratulates Curtis Miller, who was in-ducted into the Blair County Sports Hall of Fame and Dr. Zane Gates, who was recognized as the Central Blair Recreation Com-mission’s Respected Citizen of

the Year.

n It also extends congratulations and best wishes to local retirees Jeffrey Auker, Craig Ormsby, Todd Kelly, Mike Johnston, Mitch Cooper, Dick Lockard, Judge Jolene Kopriva, James Ott, Tim Mercer and Jack Reilly.

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