PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — This Saturday we continue to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the 19th Annual MLK Scholarship Breakfast.
The breakfast is hosted each year by the Epsilon Nu Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. in honor of one the organization’s most renowned members.
Four young men from area high schools received $1,500 scholarships.
- Derrick Bryant, Nansemond River High School
- Kaleb E. Richardson, Nansemond River High School
- Alton E. Futrell, III, Churchland High School
- Marcus Stewart, Booker T. Washington High School
Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Don Scott was the keynote speaker. Scott is first Black Speaker in Virginia’s 400-year history.
“It’s important. I know I stand on the shoulders of giants, but it’s also important that I be competent. It’s also important that I be excellent. That’s what I want to do. I want to make sure that I keep my family and my city proud,” said Scott. “This is a culmination of his [Dr. King’s] dream, but the dream is not over! We have an opportunity to continue to uplift our kids, continue to uplift our families, continue to make sure that the Commonwealth has an economy that works for every hard working Virginian. That’s what I plan on doing.”
Scott shared a message of resilience with the young scholars.
“The number one thing is, the same thing that I tell my daughter, we fall down and we get up. No matter what happens, you keep fighting. You overcome adversity,” said Scott.
Scott emphasizing how ‘special’ Portsmouth is along with powerful leadership presence in Richmond.
“You have to continue to fight. Keep your faith in God first. If you do that, you can overcome anything,” said Scott.
During the breakfast — Big HOMIES founder Eugene Swinson was honored with a Hugo -A- Owen’s humanitarian award.
Swinson is dedicated to creating safe communities against gun violence with Balling on the River and other anti-violence events.
The 2010 graduate of Norfolk State University aims to empower future generations through intervention, family support, resources, STEM programs, and by allowing them to access a diverse range of activities outside their neighborhoods.
On Aug. 26, 2023, Swinson and his partner Alice Edwards opened the Little HOMIES Youth Enrichment and Recreation Center in Portsmouth. The center provides a safe afterschool environment that fosters positive peer interactions.
Trayva Bradley with the ELITE Step Team was also honored as a Hugo -A- Owen’s Humanitarian award recipient.
In addition to being supportive wife and mother of 2-year-old triplets, Bradley is also a school counselor at Douglas Park Elementary School.
She has created small groups to help minority girls build self-esteem. The groups include Girl C.O.D.E. (Conversations Openly Discussed to Empower), I Love MyS.E.L.F. (She Embraces Life Fully), and Inspire me.
Trayva earned both an M.A. in Urban Education Professional School Counseling Pre-K-12 and Bachelor’s in Social Work from Norfolk State University.
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