Event is Saturday at Blair County Convention Center

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 Blair County Convention Center, Altoona.

The guest speaker will be Shirley Moore Smeal, the executive deputy secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. As chief operating officer, she is administratively responsible for the day-to-day operations of a 47,000-inmate system and ultimately responsible to oversee the 16,000 staff members.

Dinner is a choice of stuffed chicken breast, orange roughy or vegetarian. Tickets are $40 per person or $320 for a table of eight. A cash bar will be available from 5 to 7 p.m.

Reservations are due by Monday 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 Altoona Area High School’s Katelyn Musselman. The award is sponsored by Sam’s Club, Altoona Wal-Mart, Coca-Cola Bottling, The DeGol Family Foundation and Reliance Bank.

n The Martin Luther King Scholarship will be presented to Altoona Area High School’s Isaiah Barnes. It is sponsored by Guy Landolfi, Benzel’s Bakery, Pepsi Cola Bottling and Altoona First Savings Bank.

n The Thurgood Marshall Scholarship will be presented to Grier School’s Kristen Lucas. It is sponsored by Burgmeier’s Hauling, Wal-Mart Distribution Center of Bedford, Prime Sirloin Buffet and Hippo, Fleming and Pertile Law Office.

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

n The Dr. Daniel Hale Williams Scholarship will be presented to Tyrone Area High School’s Arian Hicks. It is sponsored by Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Small Tube Products Inc., First Commonwealth Bank and Doug Madden Contracting.

n The President Barack Obama Scholarship will be awarded to Altoona Area High School’s Brittney Fouse. It is sponsored by McDonald’s, Leonard S. Fiore, Operation Our Town, Nardo’s Cafe, Encompass Health and the Bavarian Aid Society.

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

n The Nelson Mandela Scholar-ship will be awarded to Altoona Area High School’s Olivia Hudson. It is sponsored by the Central Blair Recreation Commission, the Booker T. Washington Revitalization Corporation and the Central Pennsylvania Community Foundation.

n The Keystone Investigation Student Scholarship will be presented to Tyler Pulcine. It is sponsored by Dean Patterson, T.L. Car Wash, Beard Law Firm and Norfolk Southern.

n The 2019 NAACP Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to the late John Shields, his wife, Evelyn and family. 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 will be presented to Linda Jefferson in support of her daughter, Thea, sponsored by Tom Dickey Law Office, Penn Crest Bank, Modern Cabinet and Construction Co. Inc., J.C. Penney and Rev. Keith R. Moore of Mount Zion Baptist Church.

n The Doug West Outstanding Basketball Player Award will be presented to Luke Ruggery. It is sponsored by the Port Founda-tion, Mike’s Court, DeGol Carpeting and McAleer’s Plumbing.

n The 2019 NAACP Outstanding Girls Basketball Player of the Year Award will be presented to Altoona Area High School’s Bridgid Fox. It is sponsored by Hoss’s Steak & Sea House, Target, Marzoni’s and Mama Randazzo’s.

n The 2019 NAACP Outstand-ing Football Player of the Year Award will be presented to Al-toona Area High School’s Gaige Hill. It is sponsored by Sheetz Inc., Copy-Rite and Little Caesar’s.

n The 2019 Entrepreneur Award will be presented to Bernard and Nate Chatman, sponsored by M&T Bank of Altoona, Wendy’s and DiAndrea Media.

n The 2019 NAACP Boys Basketball Coach of the Year Award will be presented to Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic High School’s Chris Drenning. It is sponsored by the Altoona Curve, Navaco Industries and Atlantic Broadband.

n The 2019 NAACP Girls Basketball Coach of the Year Award will be presented to Bellwood-Antis High School’s Jim Swaney. It is sponsored by Best Way Pizza, Cracker Barrel, NPC Inc. and U.S. Foods.

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

n The NAACP would like to congratulate Jayvion Queen, past recipient of football and basketball award, who was named to the dean’s list at Colgate University, and Autumn Amerine, teacher of the month at Baker Elementary School, Altoona.