On Sunday, April 22, the National Association of University Women South Bay Branch (NAUWSB) held their annual Spotlight on Youth at the Doubletree by Hilton in Torrance, CA. The scholarship luncheon and talent program continues to highlight gifted youth and raise funds to continue their mission in the community.
“We honored Lillie Scott, who was the creator of Spotlight on Youth,” said Fannie Love, NAUWSB president. “We were very happy to do that.”
The NAUWSB started in 1964 chartered by Adelaide Dunn, then known as the Compton Branch of the National Association of University Women. It later changed its name to the South Bay Branch to include South Bay areas in 1974. The legacy association is made up of well-educated, college graduates involved in community services and activities. It was created to bring together professional women, who engage in civic duties and create networks with other professional women.
This year marks the 43rd year of NAUWSB’s Spotlight on Youth event which continues to raise money for students furthering their education. The program featured youth, who performed a variety of entertainment from singing to dance, who were later presented with acknowledgements from NAUWSB talent chair, Billie Frierson.
The youth selected to perform at this year’s event included: Analiah S. (6-years-old) and Noah S. (5-years-old) who both love music, dancing and singing in church, Kaleya E. (11-years-old), who wants to be a professional pianist and teacher, Joshua A. (13-years-old), who wants to become an attorney or a biologist, Samaya A. (14-years-old) who wants to become a pediatric surgeon, Kristyn S. is a 9th grade student who has an interest in Japanese anime art, Jasmine L. is an 11th grade student, who wants to be a dermotoligist physician assistant and Mykail M. is a 12th grade student, who wants to become a professional musician.
“It’s a golden opportunity for us to showcase our youth, to know how special, useful and meaningful they are in the process of life,” said Dr. Essie French Preston, sectional director. “This was an opportunity for them to demonstrate their confidence, their skills and for us to appreciate them.”
Joshua presented the crowd with a riveting spoken word speech while Mykail gave two trombone performances that kept everyone moving in their seats. Both young men shared info about themselves and about how they feel about being a part of the NAUWSB event.
“I got into music actually by accident,” said Mykail. “I got it just as a class, just from playing weeks on weeks, practicing, I’ve just grown to love it.”
He continued, “I feel happy that I get to come and show off my talents to everyone. I like that I can also meet other great people who perform and do other things.”
“It was a resplendent opportunity,” said Joshua. “I truly feel blessed to have this opportunity and this is something I’ve never experienced or had the opportunity to experience in all of my oratory career.
“This is something I would like to choose to experience in the future.”
Love gives special thanks to Christiana Worthams, who served as mistress of ceremony. Worthams has served as branch president, first vice president, second vice president, secretary and corresponding secretary of the southwest section. She is currently the NAUW first vice president.
“The talent was very good as usual,” said Love. “Spotlight on Youth is our opportunity to showcase the positive youth in our community.”
She continued, “You hear a lot about the negative, so on top of raising money to give people scholarships, it’s a way to showcase the wonderful stuff students are doing in our community.”
“It’s very necessary for us to support them morally and in every way that we can to enhance them to reach their educational and life goals,” said Preston.
For more information, you can contact the National Association of University Women South Bay Branch at P.O. Box 47703, Los Angeles, CA 90047. You can visit their website at www.nauw1910.org/.
