Chester Branch NAACP Annual Awards Dinner

Left to right: Nicole Cogdell, Amber Clements, Kameron Staples, Farela Howie, Rhonda Outterbridge, Christian Johnson, DaWan Long, and Van Buren Payne

This was my 3^rd year at the NAACP dinner. The 103^rd Anniversary was held the Clarion Hotel (Formerly the Ramada Inn) in Essington, PA on May 31, 2013 (usually held in April). State Representative Kirkland mentioned that we were back again for the same chicken dinner. True. But I don’t think anyone was there for the food. We were there to give honor to the recipients of this year’s awards. Here are the winners:

The 2013 Adult Recipients

The President’s Award: Oxman Goodstadt Kuritz Law Firm

The Judge Robert Wright Freedom Award: Joseph Oxman, Esquire

The John Shelton, Sr. Freedom Award: Joel B. McGee, Reverend

The Louis Brown Freedom Award: Farela Howie, Teacher

The Cecil W. Bond Freedom Award: Nicole Cogdell, Community Leader

The George Raymond Freedom Award: Van Buren Payne, Artist

Recipients from last year 

The 2013 Youth Recipients also received scholarships. 

The Cora Lee Dixon Youth Award: Shanan Rykard

The Anna Miller Youth Award: Rhonda Outterbridge

The Gwendolyn J. Foster Youth Award: Christian Johnson

The Victor Bowes Youth Award: Kameron Staples

The Delores R. Shelton Youth Award: Brittany Hughes

The Willie Mae James Leake Youth Award: Aishona Jackson

The John Lee Mathis Youth Award: Amber Clements

The James E. Cottrell Youth Award: DaWan Long

2012 Youth Recipients 

2011 Youth Recipients 

Best part of the evening was listening to the beautiful music by Ms. Tyra Starr.