NAACP scholarship set to honor young murder victim

THIS ‘N' THAT

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photo by REID SILVERMAN The Thompson family, in back from left, Camisha, Claudia, Shaquan and Michael, look on as Wayne Scriber, left, president of the St. Mary's County NAACP chapter, and Nathanial Lawrence Sr. establish the Claudia Pickeral Scholarship Fund. "We believe this to be a very appropriate way to honor Claudia's memory," Scriber said. Claudia Pickeral was a homicide victim in Bushwood in February 1997 at age 13. E-Mail This Article | Print This Story

Claudia Pickeral's death a dozen years ago came as the result of a horrific crime. The 13-year-old was walking home from her school bus stop in Bushwood on Feb. 19, 1997, when she was attacked and murdered.

To honor Pickeral's memory, the St. Mary's County Branch of the NAACP in partnership with the Claudia Pickeral Reward Fund Committee announced last week that they have established a scholarship in Pickeral's honor.

"It was very touching," said Wayne Scriber, president of the local NAACP chapter, of the official signing and establishment of the scholarship last Wednesday evening. Members of Pickeral's family attended and witnessed the event.

"They were very appreciative," Scriber said. Reading a prepared statement, the family spoke of the difficulty in dealing with their daughter's death, he said. Then they thanked everyone for the love and support shown them over the years.

"No one had completely forgotten" the crime, Scriber said. "But [establishing the scholarship] reminded everyone of the tragedy. I was really happy we were able to do that for [the family] … establish a lasting legacy."

The scholarship fund will award two $500 academic scholarships annually to deserving students who have been accepted to or are currently attending an accredited college, university trade or technical school.

"We believe this to be a very appropriate way to honor Claudia's memory," Scriber said in a statement. "Her young life ended too soon for her to realize her potential, but with the help of this scholarship, she will be helping another young person realize theirs."

The St. Mary's County Business, Education and Community Alliance Inc., BECA, will assist the NAACP with the scholarship's administration. For more information about the application process, contact BECA at 21783 North Coral Drive, Lexington Park, MD 20653; call 240-725-5805; or visit www.smcbeca.org.

For more about the St. Mary's County Branch of the NAACP or to make contributions to the Claudia Pickeral Memorial Scholarship fund, call 301-863-3011 or visit www.stmarysnaacp.org.

Young Life to offer Christian concert

Young Life St. Mary's County will be hosting a Christian concert on Saturday, March 21, from 6:30 to 9:15 p.m. at Patuxent Presbyterian Church, located in California, one mile west of the Solomons Island bridge on Route 4.

There will be three different groups performing. The Walls of Jasper will perform Southern gospel from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m.  The New Briscoe Brothers will play rhythm and blues gospel from 7:30 to 8:15 p.m. Then, the Tuesday Night Live Praise Band will perform contemporary Christian music from 8:30 to 9:15 p.m.

Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door and can be purchased from various churches with Young Life representatives or directly from Young Life by calling Sandy Baker at 240-298-7942 or Bonnie Beavan at 240-538-1811.

The concert will be a family event. Snacks will be available for purchase. All proceeds will benefit Young Life St. Mary's, a Christian outreach ministry to teens.

Scholarship announced

The American Society of Military Comptrollers, Southern Maryland Chapter, has announced it will be accepting applications for its fourth annual scholarship program from qualified high school seniors in Southern Maryland.

The society is looking for high school seniors who plan to declare a business/financial related field as their major in college.

Upon final decision of applicant winners, the organization will also offer its endorsement for the winners to participate in the national scholarship program as well.

To receive copies of the application and requirements, contact Andrea Dyson at andrea.dyson.ctr@navy.mil. Deadline for applications is March 20. Winners will be honored at a luncheon reception in April.

Living green explained

The St. Mary's County Commission on the Environment's "Living Green Expo" is scheduled for Saturday, March 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center.

The expo will feature display booths from environmental organizations and businesses. The expo will also feature several door prizes and several speakers on environmental issues. Coffee and a small lunch will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information on the expo, visit greensomd.com and click on the "St. Mary's County Commission on the Environment" link.

For more information on the Commission on the Environment and its activities, visit the county's Web site at www.stmarysmd.com and click on "Volunteer Boards" under the "Government" tab.

Retreat planned

A parish Lenten retreat with the theme "In Times Like This … We Need Jesus!" will be held March 15 to 18 starting at 7 p.m. and running approximately one hour each evening at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Leonardtown.

The community is invited to participate in one or all four evenings. For more information call 301-475-8064.

Senior citizen classes offered in Wildewood

St. Mary's College of Maryland's Grace and John Horton Explorations in Learning Program is offering new courses for spring at the Wildewood Village Community Center in California. The classes, which are open to the public, were designed originally for Wildewood residents who are retired and have an interest in lifelong learning. The six-week courses are taught by current and retired St. Mary's College faculty, including retired world history professor Frank van Aalst, as well as local experts. This spring's offerings include classes on theological beliefs, Civil War politics and the ancient and modern history of Afghanistan. For more information, including a full course catalog, visit www.smcm.edu/continuinged/lifelonglearning_horton.html or call 240-895-2200.

Deadline nears for literary submissions

"Connections," the literary journal of the College of Southern Maryland, is seeking submissions for its spring 2009 issue.

Local writers and photographers are encouraged to send their poetry, prose, essays and black and white photography to Connections@csmd.edu.

Deadline is Tuesday, March 17. Publication reading will be Friday, May 1, at 7:30 p.m. at the CSM La Plata campus. For submission guidelines, visit www.csmd.edu/Connections.

Dowla awarded endowed chair

In recognition of his scholarship, commitment to students and classroom teaching, Asif Dowla, St. Mary's College of Maryland professor of economics, has been named holder of the Hilda C. Landers Endowed Chair in the Liberal Arts. Dowla has taught at SMCM for 17 years. The Landers Chair honors a faculty member whose accomplishments in the liberal arts have set him or her apart from academic peers. It is awarded to a scholar who supports and enriches the college's fundamental courses in the arts and letters, as well as in a particular area of specialization.

Dowla is co-author of "The Poor Always Pay Back: The Grameen II Story," a book about the Nobel Prize-winning Grameen Bank. The book is in its second printing and has been translated into several languages.

After graduating from Chittagong University in 1978, Dowla moved to the United States for postgraduate studies. He received a doctorate in 1986 from Southern Methodist University and joined the SMCM faculty in 1991.

The Landers Chair was established through the support of the Arthur E. Landers Jr. and Hilda C. Landers '23 Charitable Trust.

Memorial scholarship deadline is April 16

The annual $1,000 Pat Kepferle Friendship Memorial College Scholarship is available to at least one college-bound student from a St. Mary's County high school.

The scholarship was established to help increase awareness among all St. Mary's County high school students and their families regarding the dangers of meningococcal meningitis and the strong recommendation of the scholarship committee to learn about the disease and the vaccine that can help prevent it.

he vaccine is recommended for those 11 to 12 years old and older. Parents should consult the health department or their family doctors regarding vaccine availability.

The scholarship was established in memory of Joseph Patrick "Pat" Kepferle, a 1999 Great Mills High School graduate and Towson University freshman, who died of meningococcal meningitis on March 5, 2000, just before his 19th birthday. Last year's recipients were Amy Hofmeister of Great Mills High School and Devin Bohanan of Leonardtown High School.

Applications must be postmarked by April 16 this year. Students should contact their high school counseling offices for more information.

Bowl for Kids Sake Campaign under way

Teams of three to five people are wanted to participate in upcoming Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maryland events for the annual Bowl for Kids Sake Campaign.

Events are scheduled for March 15 from noon to 2 p.m. at AMF Waldorf and March 28 from noon to 4 p.m. at Patuxent River Air Station Bowling Center.

Participating bowlers need to collect at least $50 in pledges. Those who collect more than $80 in pledges get an event T-shirt, and more than $150 in pledges gets participants a retro bowling league shirt.

Sponsorships from groups are available from $100 to $5,000. All money raised stays in Southern Maryland to assist children.

To sign up or to request a sponsorship package call 301-290-0501 or e-mail BFKSSoMd@biglittle.org.

Culinary event set for March 27

The St. Mary's Hospital Foundation will host its third annual Culinary Infusion event at Café des Artistes in Leonardtown on March 27 at 6 p.m.

Participants will be served a five-course meal crafted by Café des Artistes. During the evening, a silent auction will give attendees an opportunity to bid on unique items.

Offerings will include shrimp bisque, salmon rillettes (a buttery salmon pate), salad and tenderloin Wellington (beef with duxelles and pate wrapped and baked in puff pastry) or seafood vol-au-vent (scallops, lobster and shrimp in a creamy veloute, served in puff pastry shell) and opera pave (French pastry with layers of rich coffee butter cream and almond-coffee cake).

Tickets are $100 each. To purchase a ticket, call 301-475-6455.

Lenten day of reflection scheduled

Holy Face Catholic Church is hosting a Lenten day of reflection, "Meeting St. Paul in the Epistles and The Sacraments of Initiation," on Saturday, March 14, from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. In keeping with Pope Benedict XVI's year of St. Paul, this day will be devoted to St. Paul's teachings.

The day will begin with Mass at 8 a.m., followed by coffee and morning refreshments.

Three sessions on St. Paul's teaching about the sacraments of baptism, Eucharist and confirmation will follow.

The Rev. Joseph R. Sileo, pastor of Holy Face Catholic Church, will lead the reflection sessions.

There is no cost to attend this day of reflection, but participants are asked to bring a nonperishable food offering for the poor. Everyone is asked to bring their Bible. A luncheon of soup, salad, bread and fruit will be served.

Preregistration is requested by Saturday, March 7. To register, include name, address, telephone number and parish and register by mail to the church at 20408 Point Lookout Road, Great Mills, MD 20634; by telephone at 301-994-0525 on Tuesday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.; or e-mail to holyface@md.metrocast.net.

scraton@somdnews.com