Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Educator, Citizen of the year are named at Upchurch Banquet

McRae Middle School's cafetorium was transformed into an Easter paradise for the Ila Upchurch Banquet, Saturday, April 12.

However, it was a night for more than simply enjoying the arrival of Spring and Easter, as the Outstanding High School Senior, Upchurch Scholarship winner, Educator of the Year and Citizen of the Year were named.

Willie Wilson, dean of students at Prescott High School, won the Upchurch Scholarship.

The recipient, Jeffrey Fort, Wilson said, had all the qualities of scholarship.

"Scholarship," Wilson said, "means having the qualities of a scholar. This includes having a thirst for knowledge, discipline, being challenge oriented and teachable. This young man is all of those."

Fort, he said, has never had to be told to "pull up his clothes", nor has he had to be disciplined for misbehaving.

Fort told the audience he plans on studying to become a mechanical engineer at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and hopes to design automobiles some day.

Elaine Williams handled the rest of the awards, starting with the Outstanding High School Senior.

This award, she said, recognizes a student who has gone above and beyond the call of duty. It went to Manuel Stuart.

This was followed by Educator of the Year, which went to Prescott Superintendent Hyacinth Deon.

Williams said Deon has strong leadership qualities, was the former curriculum coordinator for the district, has a strong work ethic, motivates the students and shares what she has.

"Thank you for the confidence you've shown in me," Deon said upon receiving the award. "Those are encouraging words and I love you all."

Citizen of the Year went to Rev. Ivory Curry. Williams told the audience he was a pastor, worked as a youth minister and sponsored a two-day workshop for young people to help with their self-esteem.

Curry thanked Williams and everyone for the award.

Kenny Wiley provided some of the entertainment for the banquet, as he performed two jazz songs on his saxophone.

The other entertainment was fashion shows for children, young adults and adults.

Joyce Gibson acted as emcee for the children and adult portions, while Lynda Washington described fashions for the young adults.

With the theme for the banquet: "Easter Fashion on Parade", the MMS cafetorium was decorated in pastels for the season. The tables had ceramic Easter bunnies, along with plastic Easter eggs, while the stairway in front of the stage was adorned with spring hats.

The stage decorations completed the Spring theme, with ferns, ivy and flowers.