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NEWS
from
Central Connecticut State University
Honored as a "Leadership Institution" by the Association of
American Colleges & Universities
Media contact: Peter Kilduff, Director of University
Relations
(860) 832-1791;
Kilduff@ccsu.edu
New Britain NAACP’s Freedom Fund Dinner to feature Ray
Charles Jr. and inaugural Business, Leadership and Education
Awards at CCSU September 22 at 7 p.m.; public participation
invited
NEW BRITAIN --
September 18, 2007 -- The New Britain Branch of the National
Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
will hold its annual Freedom Fund Dinner
in Central Connecticut State
University’s Alumni Hall on Saturday, September 22, at 7
p.m. Public participation is invited and free parking is
available on campus.
The guest speaker for this year’s Freedom Fund Dinner will
be Ray Charles, Jr., son of entertainment legend “The
Genius” Ray Charles, Sr. The younger Charles is also a
catalyst and co-producer of the biopic about his father,
“Ray,” distributed by Universal Pictures. Host Mistress of
Ceremonies for the evening will be WNBC-TV News Channel 30
weekend morning news anchor and reporter Anjuli Porter.
At this year’s
dinner, the Inaugural New Britain
NAACP Business, Leadership and Educational Award will be
presented to Jordan Barnes, senior photo editor of “In
Style” magazine. A West Hartford native, Ms. Barnes
graduated from Central Connecticut State University with a
bachelor’s degree in communication in 2004. While pursuing
her degree, she worked full time for Art Rich Photography,
gaining first hand experience behind the camera lens.
After graduation, she was an intern at “O, The Oprah
Magazine” and moved to New York City to pursue a career in
the magazine industry. Barnes was promoted to assistant
photo editor of “O Magazine” and then became senior photo
editor at “In Style” magazine. She is assigned to special
issues and works closely with some of the nation's top
photographers, stylists, and celebrities.
The
New Britain
Branch of the NAACP will present its corporate
leadership award to
GE Vice Chairman Lloyd G. Trotter. From the start of his
business career, when he helped integrate a Cleveland
factory, Lloyd Trotter was a forerunner. Later, as president
and CEO of GE Industrial, a branch of General Electric, he
continued helping to open doors for other minorities and
women. Trotter gives selflessly of his time and resources by
volunteering with a wide variety of organizations, including
the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), which named
a scholarship after him.
The New
Britain NAACP Branch will present its most prestigious
honor, the
John P. Shaw Award, to Retired Flight Officer Connie Nappier,
Jr., one of the original Tuskegee Airmen of World War II
fame. Nappier’s life achievements were recognized by CCSU,
which in 2001 awarded him an honorary Doctor of Humane
Letters degree. In the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol earlier
this year, President George W. Bush, House Speaker Nancy
Pelosi and former Secretary of State Colin Powell presented
Nappier with the Congressional Gold Medal, America’s highest
civilian honor. A New Britain resident, Nappier is the
father of Connecticut State Treasurer Denise Nappier.
Other honorees will be: Nancy Amos, recipient
of the New Britain Branch NAACP’s Iola Choice Community
Service Award; Sebastian Nolan will receive the Armenthia
Coley Community Service Award; Rev. Charles F. Tillett, Jr.
will receive the Alton F. Brooks Community Service Award;
and Bertha Burkes will receive the Connie Wilson Collins
Community Service Award.
The
New Britain
Branch of the NAACP will present its
Youth Community Outreach Award to
Hot 93.7 broadcast team, among a host of other notables.
The NAACP event’s VIP cocktail reception begins
at 6 P.M. with dinner following at 7 P.M. Co-Chairs for the
event are New Britain Branch 1st Vice President Brian Riley
and Lisa Nkonoki.
Directions to
CCSU are at the University’s website:
http://www.ccsu.edu/visit.htm
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