Professor to give keynote address at Oak Ridge BIG Scholarship Luncheon

Cheryl “Shelly” T. George

In celebration of Black History Month, the Oak Ridge Chapter of Blacks in Government is sponsoring the Annual BIG Scholarship Luncheon on Thursday, a press release said.

It’s scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Oak Ridge Civic Center.

The keynote speaker will be professor and author Cheryl “Shelly” T. George. She will discuss the 2013 Black History Month theme “Honoring Freedom: 150 Years after the Emancipation Proclamation and 50 Years after the March on Washington.”

The press release said George practices in criminal law, administrative law, and family law in the state of Texas. She has a bachelor’s degree from Howard University in Washington, D.C., and a juris doctorate from Texas Tech School of Law in Lubbock, Texas. She currently teaches criminal law, evidence, and criminal procedure at Lincoln Memorial University-Duncan School of Law and has taught education law, civil rights, and international human rights.

This event is open to the public. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased for $15 at the door or from any member of the Oak Ridge Chapter of BIG. Proceeds from ticket sales fund scholarships for local area high school seniors based on their academic excellence or financial need. Scholarship funds are also raised through private and/or corporate donations. For more information on how to donate toward this scholarship, call Tanisha Smith-Wimes at (865) 576-1025.

The Oak Ridge Civic Center is at 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

BIG is a non-profit organization that has been in existence for more than 30 years to aid in a national response to the needs of African-Americans in public service, to organize around issues of mutual concern, and to use their collective strength to confront workplace and community issues. BIG strives to promote equality in all aspects of American life and excellence in public service.