PR2005 Feb U1

NEWS BRIEF

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Wendy Jones 205-391-2310

Black History Month Celebrated at Shelton State

Tuscaloosa – Shelton State Community College will celebrate Black History Month with a series of events throughout the month of February.

The kick-off event is the February 1 “Terrific Tuesday Concert” featuring Bessin Hunter Shelton in recital.  Ms. Shelton, a native of Tuskegee, Alabama, received a B.A. degree in English from Tuskegee Institute (University); a B.M. degree in Voice from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; a M.M. degree in Voice from the University of Montevallo; and is presently working toward a doctorate in voice at the University of Alabama.  She is currently on the music faculty at Lawson State Community College.  Ms. Shelton has performed throughout the southeast as well as at Carnegie Hall with the Manhattan Chamber Orchestra, the Albany Symphony Orchestra and the Ball State Symphony Orchestra.

Storyteller DWe Williams will visit the campus beginning on February 2 for a two day residency.  Williams holds a Bachelor in Speech and Theatre Education from North Carolina A&T State University. She also has a Masters Degree in Creative Drama and Children’s Theatre from Southern Illinois University. During her residencies, DWe uses storytelling and drama as a primary tool to enhance arts integration while students create and participate in storytelling and learn the value of this oral tradition in society. Songs, movement and visual art projects are also be used to enrich the learning process.

On February 2, Williams will present a Storytelling Performance for elementary school children from Martin Luther King, Jr., Central, Stafford, and Woodland Forrest Elementary Schools at the “Unity Center” on the C.A. Fredd Campus of the college.

On February 3, Williams will be on the Martin Campus at 9500 Old Greensboro Road to conduct a “master class” for theatre, African American Studies Students from Shelton State, Stillman College, and the University of Alabama. Her residency will conclude with a public performance at 7:30 p.m. in the Bean-Brown Theatre.  The performance, which is suitable for all ages, is free and open to the public.

            The Lifelong Learning Center at Shelton State is offering a special three-session class on February 9, 16 and 23 titled “The Black History of Tuscaloosa” taught by Joseph Mallisham.  The course, which is being offered at the Unity Center on the C.A. Fredd Campus, will meet from 1:00 to 2:30 P.M. on Wednesdays.  From the early black settlers through the civil war years, and on to the civil rights movement of the fifties and sixties, the course will identify the black citizens that helped shape Tuscaloosa and the surrounding area.  Guest speakers will cover various subjects. Registration deadline for the course is February 2.  To register or to request additional information, contact theLifelong Learning Center at 205-391-2999.

On February ___ , Shelton State will host Alabama Senator Henry "Hank" Sanders (D) who will speak to students about his first published book entitled, "Death of a Fat Man," a fictitious novel written in the form of a letter to a four-year-old granddaughter.

The 415-page novel, written in vignettes, describes the "fat man's" struggle with obesity, and how weight has impacted every facet of his life. "I wanted to be as honest as I could be," states Sanders. "Sometimes with fiction you can be more honest than you can when you are writing an autobiography."

Sanders began working on the book about 12 years ago, and then put it aside after writing a few chapters. He returned to his writing about two years ago, when he began to struggle to lose weight to improve his own personal health and mental state. 

Senator Sanders is serving his sixth term in the Senate. He is a graduate of Talladega College and Harvard Law School. He represents Autauga, Clarke, Conecuh, Dallas, Lowndes, Marengo, Monroe, Perry and Wilcox counties. In addition to his career as an attorney, Sanders also writes a weekly column published in two daily newspapers, a number of weeklies and wide distribution in other arenas.

February 25 will see a special Black History Month event at the C.A. Fredd Campus of Shelton State Community College.  The program, Black History: Past and Present, will include remarks by Dr. Rick Rogers, President of Shelton State; the Central High School Jr ROTC; National Anthem by Ms. Brittany Norris; Westlawn Middle School Choir; A Walk Through History by Ms. Carolyn Edwards; Unsung Heroes by Dean Ronald Range; and Remarks by Dr. Bryant Melton.

  The C.A. Fredd Campus is one of only a handful of 2-year schools in the country that have been named to the list of “Historically Black College and Universities” (HBCU).

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