NAACP's 55th Annual Freedom Fund Banquet raises $6,000 for college scholarships

By Megan Durisin

From © The Bay City Times

BAY CITY — As the youngest of 13 children born and raised in Saginaw, Rep. Stacy Erwin Oakes, D-Saginaw grew up always loving a challenge.

And when one of her students during her time as a teacher at Saginaw Public Schools challenged her — asking why she wasn't pursuing her dreams of becoming a lawyer — she realized it was time to follow through on her goals.

She tendered her letter of resignation the next year and enrolled at Michigan State University's College of Law, working her way through the ranks to her current position as the 95th District State Representative.

On Sunday, Oakes served as the featured speaker for the Bay City branch of the NAACP's 55th Annual Freedom Fund Banquet at the DoubleTree Hotel and Conference Center in Bay City.

"Because of the work of the NAACP, anyone who wants to be a state representative that looks like me — that's something they can achieve," Oakes said during her speech, receiving a standing ovation.

The event had about 108 attendees and raised close to $6,000 to be used for college scholarships and financial aid for area students, said Eileen Marshall, chairperson of the banquet.

Many local legislators also attended the event, including U.S. Rep. Dale Kildee, D-MI; Bay City Mayor Chris Shannon; State Rep. Charles Brunner, D-Bay City; Bay City Public Schools Superintendent Douglas Newcombe and Bay County Executive Thomas Hickner.

Former state Rep. Jeff Mayes received special recognition during the event for his involvement and willingness to help the branch throughout the past decade.

Mayes said he appreciates the work the branch does to encourage diversity and provide opportunities for students in Bay City.

He said he attended the University of Michigan on a scholarship and realizes how important it was for obtaining his degree.

"There's nothing more important this organization does than support students in school," Mayes said.

Youth were a main focus of the Sunday event, and three students were recognized as the first recipients of the Idella White Scholarship —  in honor of the organization's former president, who passed away last year.

Ciera Charles, one of the recipients of the $500 awards and a senior at Whittemore-Prescott High School, said she was thrilled to earn the scholarship and plans to use it towards her goal of pursuing medicine and possibly become a veterinarian.

"I'm really excited —  anything that gets me closer to my goal of going to Ohio State University," she said.

The other recipients of the scholarship were Whetley Henry and Alejandro Mata, both seniors at Bay City Central High School. Henry will attend Michigan State University to work toward his goal of becoming a doctor, and Mata plans to pursue a mechanical engineering degree.

The event also featured singing from high school and college students in The Harmonics of the NAACP, organized by youth director Onie Triplett.

Triplett said the students in the group have begun touring local nursing homes to sing and presented a play in honor of black history month earlier this year.

Melva Walker, a Bay City resident and one of the students in the group, sang an a cappella version of Kirk Franklin's "My LIfe Is In Your Hands."

Walker said she used to attend Delta College. She plans to go back to school soon and hopes to apply for some of the scholarships the group provides.

'I'm looking for whatever help I can get," Walker said.

Bay County Treasurer Rick Brzezinski also attended the event. He said in today's political climate, the community needs to stand up for the rights of all people.

"All middle-class working people need to band together and support equal rights for all," he said.