CLASS OF 2021:

Virtually Anything Is Possible! 2020 HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS' RECOGNITION PROGRAM

Raising the Standard Foundation Raising the Standard Foundation is a 501(c) 3 established August 12, 2014. Its purpose is to enhance the educational development for underprivileged and at-risk students; provide financial assistance to college bound students; and sponsor programs that will prepare high school seniors to become productive citizens and further their education. The Raising the Standard Foundation collaborates with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Beta Mu Omega Chapter recognizing local high school seniors.

High School Seniors' Recognition The High School Seniors’ Recognition Program is designed to recognize and honor high school seniors for their academic accomplishments, extracurricular activities, community and civic service, leadership skills and talents. Honorees will participate in activities that will help them enhance their college and career readiness.

Our Honorees

Omarion Barton

Tamiia Brazzell

Southwest

Southwest

High

School

Kennedy Blackman Franklin

D.

High

High

School

Rossevelt

School

Robert Kirk Burleson

Morgan Guy North High

Crowley School

High

School

Shannon Lewis Cedar

Hill

High

Collegiate School

Our Honorees

Brenton Milton

Amaris Nash

Mansfield High

School

Newman

Candace Mongo John High

Zhoe Thomas North High

Crowley School

H.

International

Academy

of

Cedar

Guyer

School

Destiny Wesley North High

Crowley School

Hill

Our Speaker

Dr. Mark D. Cunningham Dr. Mark D. Cunningham received his Ph.D. in Radio-Television-Film from the University of Texas at Austin. His dissertation considered narrative, race, and gender in John Singleton’s hood trilo󿵋: Boyz N the Hood, Poetic Justice, and Baby Boy. His research interests include film studies, literature, popular culture studies, and race studies. He has contributed an essay on the film Crooklyn for The Spike Lee Reader, edited by Paula J. Massood, an essay on the film adaptation of the Twilight novels for Genre, Reception, and Adaptation in the Twilight Series, edited by Anne Morey, an essay on the television show Noah’s Arc for the forthcoming antholo󿵋 Watching While Black: Centering the Television of Black Audiences, edited by Beretta Smith-Shomade, and entries on Dave Chappelle and The Hughes Brothers for the African-American National Biography, edited by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham. He is currently at work on an essay for an antholo󿵋 on black film and another for an antholo󿵋 focusing on the career of rapper/actor Ice-T. Mark is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Founded on the campus of Howard University in Washington, DC in 1908, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is the oldest Greek-letter organization established by African American college-trained women. Since 1908, the sisterhood of Alpha Kappa Alpha has responded to the worlds’ increasing complexity. It continues to empower communities through exemplary service initiatives and progressive programs.

Beta Mu Omega Since May 2, 1936, the Beta Mu Omega chapter has been a staunch pillar of service to all mankind in the Tarrant County area and nationwide. Notable members of Beta Mu Omega include Hazel Harvey Peace, Deralyn Riles Davis, Reva Bell and Allene Jones.

Thank You to our Sponsors! SCHOLARSHIP SPONSORS JAY G. TURNER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP DR. DARRON & DR. DEIDRA TURNER BETA MU OMEGA, HONORING HEALTH CARE WORKERS SCHOLARSHIP DR. JASMINE COLEMAN,DDS, DR. KAREN PILGRIM KING,MD, DR. BENECIA WILLIAMS,DO, MS. FLORASTINE MACK,RN & MRS. ALICIA COLLINS,RN. MAYS FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP DR. ANTHONY & MRS. BELINDA MAYS BETA MU OMEGA, SILVER STARS SCHOLARSHIP MS. TAMARA CORREA, MRS. PAMELA HARMON, MRS. RAMONA COLBERT, MS. SHELIA BARNETT, MS. FLORASTINE MACK, MS. SHERRI SMITH, MRS. FREDA MURRAY, MS. AUBRA GANTT, MS. LINDA MORGAN, MS. LOESTER POSEY, MS. PATRICIA DURST, MRS. LYNETTE PORTER, MRS. SHIRLEY BATISTE, MRS. DEBORAH REED, MRS. NEDRA SIMMONS, MRS. ETHELENE MCCULLOUGH, & MRS. BRIDGETT DAVIS. BETA MU OMEGA, GOLDEN SORORS SCHOLARSHIP MRS. BEVERLY BUTLER, MRS. DORIS SMITH, MRS. BARBARA HAYMAN, MRS. PEGGY FOXX, MRS. BARBARA DUNLAVY, MRS. DERALYN RILES-DAVIS, MS. MONZELLA THOMAS, DR. JULIA BALLENGER, MRS. GERALDINE PARISH, MRS. HAZEL GEE, MRS, WILMA STEWART, MRS. SHIRLEY LEVELS, & MRS. BERTHA SCOTT. CHAMBERS ENGINEERING SCHOLARSHIP MR. GARY & MRS. BELINDA CHAMBERS FANNIE ISOM-SMITH MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP MS. PEYTON ANDERSON, MS. PATRICIA DURST, MRS. NEDRA SIMMONS, MS. SHELIA BARNETT, & MRS. ETHELENE MCCULLOUGH JUANITA LANE LACY MEMORIAL HBCU SCHOLARSHIP MS. SHARON GORDON, MR. CHARLES GORDON, MS. ALBERTA LANE, & MS. BRENDA ANDERSON

Thank You to our Sponsors! Scholarship Sponsors - Continued JUANITA LANE LACY MEMORIAL PWI SCHOLARSHIP MS. SHARON GORDON, MR. CHARLES GORDON, MS. ALBERTA LANE, & MS. BRENDA ANDERSON MARK TRACY HORNBUCKLE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP MS. SHAY DIAL JOHNSON, MR. MARKESE HORNBUCKLE, MS. JOE ANN HORNBUCKLE, & MR. SYLVESTER J. JOHNSON, III SHIRLEY & MICHAEL BATISTE SCHOLARSHIP MRS. SHIRLEY & MR. MICHAEL BATISTE SOROR BESTIES SCHOLARSHIP SOROR BESTIES, LLC TIMEKA & GORDON HAYWOOD SCHOLARSHIP MR. HAYWOOD & MRS. TIMEKA GORDON TRIMBLE TECH HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI SCHOLARSHIP MS. SHAY DIAL JOHNSON, MRS. LATRESSA KENNARD, & MRS. NEDRA SIMMONS VERNA FRAZIER SIMMONS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP ROBERT FRAZIER, III & MRS. NEDRA & MR. LOUIS SIMMONS. ETHEL BOATWRIGHT MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP, 1 MR. JAMES & MRS. BRIDGETT DAVIS ETHEL BOATWRIGHT MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP, 2 MR. JAMES & MRS. BRIDGETT DAVIS KATHERINE DOUGLAS & MARY SPILLER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP MS. JAMYE SPILLER-JOHNSON

Thank You to our Sponsors! VIRTUAL CEREMONY SPONSORS MR. GLEN & MRS. PAMELA HARMON

SEMINAR SPONSORS BETA MU OMEGA-DIVINE 29 MS. SHYMIA BOOKER, MS. LAWANNA VIERS, MRS.SHANETTA ROSS, MS. JAMIE SPILLER- JOHNSON, MS. MAI MILTON MULLEN, MS. ALLISON KNOTT DR. NIKITA RUSSELL, MRS. CHERIE PACE, MRS. PATRINA MCDANIEL, MS. NADIA POWERS DR. JULIA BALLLENGER

Steering Committee MS. SHAY DIAL JOHNSON EVENT CHAIRMAN MS. SHUNDA DIXON EVENT CO-CHAIRMAN MRS. PAMELA HARMON RECRUITMENT & COMMUNITY SERVICE CO-CHAIRMAN MRS. DORIS SMITH FUNDRAISING CO-CHAIRMAN MS. SHERRI SMITH FUNDRAISING CO-CHAIRMAN MRS. GILLIAN NASH SCHOLARSHIP & ESSAY CO-CHAIRMAN MS. SHELIA BARNETT TREASURER, RAISING THE STANDARD FOUNDATION MS. FLORASTINE MACK EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, RAISING THE STANDARD FOUNDATION MS. TAMARA CORREA INCENTIVES CO-CHAIRMAN MRS. NEDRA SIMMONS ATTIRE & INCENTIVES CO-CHAIRMAN MS. KIMBERLY GUESS SEMINAR CO-CHAIRMAN MS. NADIA POWERS GRANT & DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR, RAISING THE STANDARD FOUNDATION MRS. KRISTI PARKS, MS. LINDA MORGAN, & MS. ALBERTA LANE MEMBERS AT LARGE MRS. LINDA IGLEHART, MRS. JOYCE THOMAS, & MS. SAMANTHA BRITTENHAM ESSAY COMMITTEE

CLASS OF 2021:

Virtually Anything Is Possible! 2020 HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS' RECOGNITION PROGRAM