Mount Union students make Black History Month presentation
Submitted photo<br>Participants in the Black History Month presentation on Feb. 28 included, from left, Billea Loner, Tyonna Hartley, Rick Rogers, Donald Fortson Sr., Arianna Posey, Marie Hamman and Tayvian Rice; second row, Tavin McMickens, Sylvia Morris, Duane Gearhart, Braydon Smith and Kirk Stevens.
Submitted photo<br>Marie Hamman, paraprofessional, and Tayvian Rice, sophomore, give a presentation on Black History Month.
Submitted photo<br>Participants in the Black History Month presentation on Feb. 28 included, from left, Billea Loner, Tyonna Hartley, Rick Rogers, Donald Fortson Sr., Arianna Posey, Marie Hamman and Tayvian Rice; second row, Tavin McMickens, Sylvia Morris, Duane Gearhart, Braydon Smith and Kirk Stevens.
Submitted photo<br>Marie Hamman, paraprofessional, and Tayvian Rice, sophomore, give a presentation on Black History Month.
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MOUNT UNION -- Students and faculty in the Mount Union Area School District held a Black History Month presentation on Feb. 28, which organizers said was well received by the community.
Guest speakers were Donald Fortson and Rick Rogers, both graduates of Mount Union Area High School.
According to Kirk Stevens, an organizer for the event, Fortson is a retired police officer who is active in working with youth in Mount Union. Stevens said Fortson spoke about local African-American history.
Rogers, Stevens said, served in the military for 27 years and spoke about his career, which included serving in Vietnam, and how it impacted his life as an African-American.
"The message conveyed was 'never give up when faced with adversity,' and 'listen and learn from those around you,'" Stevens said. "The purpose of the program is to recognize African Americans for the outstanding contributions they have made throughout history and to recognize those men and women in our community and to foster continued pride and growth."
Masters of ceremonies were Tavin McMickens and Tyonna Hartley
McMickens read a poem titled "Dear Son," and was recognized for accepting an appointment into the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.
Sophomore Tayvian Rice developed a PowerPoint presentation on Black History Month, while Tyonna Hartley, a junior, and Arianna Posey, a freshman, read "I am a Black Woman."