Teens showcase artistic talents in annual ACT-SO competition.Byline: Jim Feehan The Register-Guard Maybe it was something about her name. Destiny Henderson, a sophomore at Churchill High School, competed for the first time Sunday in Eugene-Springfield's annual Afro-Academic Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics - and came away with three gold medals gold medal traditional first prize. [Western Cult: Misc.] See : Prize , in dramatics dra·mat·ics n. (used with a sing. or pl. verb) 1. The art or practice of acting and stagecraft. 2. Dramatic or stagy behavior: Cut the dramatics and get to the point. , photography and oratory oratory, the art of swaying an audience by eloquent speech. In ancient Greece and Rome oratory was included under the term rhetoric, which meant the art of composing as well as delivering a speech. . That means Henderson - along with Churchill junior Desiree Williams and Sheldon sophomore Scott Braswell - is bound for the national ACT-SO ACT-SO Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological, and Scientific Olympics competition in Philadelphia in July. Sunday's event, sponsored by the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), organization composed mainly of American blacks, but with many white members, whose goal is the end of racial discrimination and segregation. , showcased the talents of Henderson and 25 other black teenagers from local high schools. Henderson, encouraged by her older sister, I'Esha, to compete, said she never dreamed she would fare so well. "I didn't expect to win in all three categories I entered. I'm so excited; now I'm going to Philadelphia," she said after receiving her gold medals in an award ceremony in the Hult Center's Soreng Theatre. I'Esha Henderson, now a senior at Churchill, has been to the nationals the last three years. She just missed out on a fourth trip, scoring two silvers and a bronze on Sunday. "I'm a little upset my sister isn't going," Destiny Henderson said. "I know she tried her best." Founded in 1978 by author and journalist Vernon Jarrett, the ACT-SO competition is modeled as a "Olympics of the mind" to honor As a verb, to accept a bill of exchange, or to pay a note, check, or accepted bill, at maturity. To pay or to accept and pay, or, where a credit so engages, to purchase or discount a draft complying with the terms of the draft. academic and cultural achievement, much as sports heroes are celebrated for their athletic achieve- ments. Medal categories include essay, dance, poetry, math, entrepreneurship, dramatics, oratory, photography, film making, drawing, architecture, vocal performance, painting and sculpture. Students may compete in up to three categories per competition. Twenty-six local experts served as judges, awarding gold, silver and bronze medals in some but not all categories. Snell Snell , George 1903-1996. American geneticist. He shared a 1980 Nobel Prize for discoveries concerning cell structure that enhanced understanding of the immunological system, resulting in higher success rates in organ transplantation. Fontus, a Eugene surgeon, has served as an ACT-SO coordinator for the past three years. In addition to providing black youth a way to explore and showcase their talents, the experience also helps students' self-confidence and self-esteem, he said. Alexandra Whitney, for example, took home the silver medal in the painting competition - despite taking up painting only a few months ago. "I like expressing my feelings, my emotions, on canvas," said Whitney, a sophomore at South Eugene High. For the past few months, the students have partnered with mentors in various arts and academic fields. Whitney's mentor Mentor, in Greek mythology Mentor (mĕn`tər, –tôr'), in Greek mythology, friend of Odysseus and tutor of Telemachus. was Lynda Lanker, a Eugene artist who's painted several portraits of University of Oregon The University of Oregon is a public university located in Eugene, Oregon. The university was founded in 1876, graduating its first class two years later. The University of Oregon is one of 60 members of the Association of American Universities. presidents. "I'm so pleased for Alexandra. She has a natural gift and she works very hard," Lanker said. Seli Thomas, a junior at Sheldon High, said ACT-SO goes a long way in countering stereotypes about young blacks. She won a gold medal in poetry at last year's event and competed in the national competition in Miami. She won a silver medal in vocal performance Sunday. "It was pretty cool to see so many African-American teens in the arts, who don't follow the stereotype stereotype (stĕr`ĕətīp'), plate from which printing is done, made by casting metal in a mold, usually of paper pulp. The process was patented in 1725 by the Scottish inventor William Ged. that blacks must be good in sports," Thomas said. ACT-SO WINNERS Gold award recipients bound for national competition Destiny Henderson, Churchill sophomore: Dramatics, gold; photography, gold; oratory, gold Desiree Williams, Churchill junior: Poetry, gold; sculpture, gold; drawing, bronze Scott Braswell, Sheldon sophomore: Essay, gold I'Esha Henderson, Churchill senior: Film making, silver; oratory, silver; poetry, bronze Snohti Nmah, Willamette junior: Dance, silver Andrew Phillips For the solicitor and Liberal Democrat politician, see . Andrew Phillips is a historian from the ancient borough of Colchester in Essex in the East of England. He is a lecturer in history at the Colchester Institute. , Springfield sophomore: Drawing, silver Desiree Fountaine, Churchill junior: Essay, silver Jordan Clevenger, Thurston freshman: Math, silver Seli Thomas, Sheldon junior: Vocal music, silver Alexandra Whitney, South Eugene sophomore: Painting, silver Chevon Simmons, Churchill senior: Poetry, silver Natasha Adams, South Eugene junior: Dance, bronze Rachel Manwarren, Churchill senior: Essay, bronze Nyneju Nmah, Willamette sophomore: Math, bronze Yasha Stubbs, Churchill freshman: Vocal music, bronze Emmanuel Luvert, South Eugene junior: Photography, bronze CAPTION(S): Alexandra Whitney of South Eugene High School South Eugene High School is a public high school located in Eugene, Oregon, United States. It was founded as Eugene High School around 1900, and was located at Willamette Street and West 11th Avenue in a brick building that later served as Eugene's city hall. discusses her art entry with ACT-SO judge Jim Denney at the Hult Center on Sunday. Wayne Eastburn / The Register-Guard Snohti Nmah of Willamette High School Willamette High School is a school in Eugene, Oregon. Willamette, or "Wil-Hi," is located in the Bethel-Danebo area of west Eugene, and is the only high school in the Bethel School District. practices her dance routine before performing for judges on Sunday. |
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