Focus on Youth

Focus on Youth

The George Edgecomb Bar Association honors top Tampa-area students.

It's all about the youth. That's the resounding theme that dominates the annual scholarship banquet by the George Edgecomb Bar Association. This year the association of black Tampa-area lawyers put an exclamation point on that mission during the April 25 event at Tampa's Downtown Hyatt Regency Hotel.

From 450 to 500 judges, lawyers and guests attended this year's event, says Kemi Oguntebi, the Tampa solo practitioner who co-chaired the banquet with Carlton Field's Kamilah Perry.

In honor of Perry's work, GrayRobinson's Clinton Paris, the 2004-05 GEBA president, presented her with the annual President's award.

This year the group featured Pastor Walter Fauntroy, the retired Democratic congressman from Washington, D.C., who entertained the audience with his political insight and an inspiring rendition of the song singer Whitney Houston made popular, "The Greatest Love of All."

Members of the audience expressed awe at his singing prowess. He chose the song because of its message: That children are this country's most valuable natural resource.

"Young people we love you," he said.

As years' past, the highlight of the event was the scholarships awarded to three Tampa-area high school students. The group awarded its highest honor, a four-year scholarship, to Danielle McIntyre, a freshman at Plant City High School.

Fowler White's Julie Sneed, the scholarship committee chair, cited McIntyre's academic and athletic accomplishments. McIntyre, who is bilingual, currently has a 4.36 grade point average. She is a member of the school's junior varsity basketball, track and volleyball teams.

The group also awarded scholarships to seniors Charlie Connally of Riverview High School, Violetta Range of Armwood High School and Heather Morton of Tampa Bay Technical High School.

- David R. Corder