Picture of African Dancers in the 2016 parade in Scarboro. (Submitted photo)
The Scarboro Community Alumni Association will have a weekend of festivities this month as part of Oak Ridge’s 75th anniversary celebration.
It’s a reunion scheduled from July 27-July 30.
The 2018 theme, “Connecting the Dots,” commemorates the generations that made lifestyle choices that affect the growth and development of a vibrant Scarboro and Oak Ridge community, a press release said.
“Some additional 200 persons will return back to Oak Ridge to rekindle old memories of growing up in the Scarboro community,” the release said.
Festivities will begin with the Meet and Greet held Friday, July 27, from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Scarboro Community Center at 148 Carver Avenue. There, people may receive their registration information, talk with old friends, and enjoy music and appetizers, the press release said.
A parade will begin Saturday, July 28, with lineup from 8:15 a.m. to 8:50 a.m. and departure at 8:55 a.m. The location is Spurgeon Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church at 100 South Benedict Avenue.
Parade participants can perform, provide a float, drive a vehicle, or walk, the press release said. Performing participants will entertain the crowd throughout the parade where balloons are posted. Send an e-mail to Rose Weaver at [email protected] for more information.
The parade route will begin on Benedict and travel throughout the Scarboro community through Benedict, Dillard, Hampton Road, Wilberforce, and Fisk, ending at Mt. Zion Baptist Church.
Following the parade at 10 a.m., there will be a Fun Day Event at the Scarboro Community Center at 148 Carver Avenue. There will be food and non vendors such as jewelry, apparel, art work, and authors of books, the press release said. Face painting for children will also be provided.
Throughout the Fun Day Event, there will be performances such as the African Dancers and other musical entertainers. Luther Simmons will provide music of your era throughout the event. The cost for vendors are $50 for food vendors and $35 for non-vendors. A table and two chairs will be provided. All other equipment will need to be provided by the vendor, the press release said.
The highlight of the weekend festivities will be the culmination of the scholarship award banquet held at the Elks Lodge at 684 Emory Valley Road from 6 to 10 p.m., the release said. Adarius Scott and Amara Howard will receive scholarships and the 2018 Spirit of Community Award Recipients, Charlie Bell, Ebony Capshaw, J.B.Hill, Ronald Graham, Otis Howard, Willie Golden Jr., and James Little, will be recognized, the press release said.
The keynote speaker for the evening will be Cassandra Osborne. Osborne will reflect on the theme, “Connecting the Dots.â€
Osborne received her bachelor’s degree from Warren Wilson College in North Carolina, where she was awarded the Alton P. Pfaff Award as the most outstanding student to graduate during her four years at the college, the press release said. She earned her master’s degree from the University of Tennessee. She served as an AP United States history teacher, social studies coordinator, and director of SECME (Science, Engineering, Communications, Mathematics, and Enrichment) for the Oak Ridge Schools until her retirement. She has served on the SAT II U.S. History Test Development Committee, AP U. S. History Curriculum Development and Assessment Committee, and as a test item writer for the Praxis Exam. She has been a presenter at the National Council for the Social Studies and Organization of American Historians, the press release said.
Banquet speaker Cassandra Osborne (Submitted photo)
Some of her past educational awards includes Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, USA Today—All-American Teacher—second team, Governor’s Schools of Tennessee Outstanding Teacher for the Arts, International Studies, and Humanities. SECME Teacher of the Year, Ethel C. Black Outstanding Educator Award, NAACP Freedom Fund Community Service Award, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Southeastern Regional Conference Hall of Fame for Public and Community Service Award, S.T.E.P. Youth Services Community Service Award for Scarboro, YWCA Woman of Distinction Award, Sportsman of the Year Award—Atomic City Sportsmen’s Club, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and 100 Black Men of Knoxville Outstanding Educator’s Award. David Pettus will serve as the master of ceremonies.
She has held numerous offices in educational professional organizations, which has included serving as the legislative chair for the Oak Ridge Retired Teachers Association, Steering Committee member for the Advanced Placement National Conference, and as a College Board consultant. She lives in Oak Ridge and attends Spurgeon Chapel AME Zion Church, where she serves on the Trustee Board.
Cost for the weekend activities is $60, which includes cost for the Friday Meet and Greet and Saturday Awards Banquet. The separate cost for the Banquet is $40.
Cashier checks or money orders payable for the weekend events should be made payable to SCAA and mailed to SCAA, P.O. Box 5418, Oak Ridge, TN 37831. The registration deadline is July 21. The Comfort Inn, Doubletree Hotel, Holiday Inn Express, and Quality Inn are providing special discount rates until July 19. Use the code word Scarboro Reunion.
The Scarboro Community Alumni Association was established in 2011 in an effort to empower youth in the Scarboro community and remind Oak Ridge residents of the significant contributions made by Scarboro residents, that have birthed doctors, engineers, writers, lawyers, scientists, scholars, business men and women, political officials, and world renowned athletes, the press release said. The SCAA invites the community to attend.
For more information, contact Julie H. Fletcher at (615) 823-0571.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
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