Herald & Review (Decatur, IL)
February 21, 1994
Section: News
Page: A3
Talent goes unnoticed
Few attend students’ splendid fashion, music show
GARY MINICH
H&R Staff Writer
DECATUR -It probably was the best entertainment value in Decatur Sunday afternoon, but few took advantage of it.
Millikin University’s Black Emphasis Association presented a free Talent and Fashion Extravaganza in the multipurpose room of Richards Treat Center, proving that pound-for-pound the sparsely numbered student group is loaded with talent.
BEA President Denelle Niles, a junior from St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, said that about 25 of Millikin’s minority students are active in the organization.
She and nine others presented Sunday’s show, featuring fashions from Chess King and Sycamore.
Playing mostly to less than two dozen classmates and peers, models LaVon Fisher, Sheila Justice, Merlinda Pauleon, Melissa Pursley, Paul Branton, Darrell Mitchel, Marcus Moulton and Jerrell Watson trooped the runway in spring fashions ranging from picnic togs to formal wear.
Watson also contributed a baritone sax jazz solo and sang a duet with LeeAnn Swanegan. Swanegon, Fisher and Pursley each performed solos.
The event was part of the BEA’s Black History Month celebration.
On Saturday, Fisher -a junior music/theater major from Louisville, Ky. — held an African dance workshop, attended by Decatur high school students and others.
Niles said the group has concentrated on February events in past years, but hopes to expand activities throughout the school year.
On March 6, it will sponsor a free Gospel Choir concert on campus. On March 11, it will hold a stand-up comedy contest and it plans a seminar April 20 in which Millikin President Curtis McCray and others discuss the university’s responsible to the community.
Although Millikin’s minority enrollment was practically invisible a decade ago, Niles followed two older sisters to the school from St. Thomas. She said her sisters were recruited by Millikin and fell in love with both the school and Decatur.
Millikin has about 70 minority students this year, Niles said.
February 21, 1994
Section: News
Page: A3
Talent goes unnoticed
Few attend students’ splendid fashion, music show
GARY MINICH
H&R Staff Writer
DECATUR -It probably was the best entertainment value in Decatur Sunday afternoon, but few took advantage of it.
Millikin University’s Black Emphasis Association presented a free Talent and Fashion Extravaganza in the multipurpose room of Richards Treat Center, proving that pound-for-pound the sparsely numbered student group is loaded with talent.
BEA President Denelle Niles, a junior from St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, said that about 25 of Millikin’s minority students are active in the organization.
She and nine others presented Sunday’s show, featuring fashions from Chess King and Sycamore.
Playing mostly to less than two dozen classmates and peers, models LaVon Fisher, Sheila Justice, Merlinda Pauleon, Melissa Pursley, Paul Branton, Darrell Mitchel, Marcus Moulton and Jerrell Watson trooped the runway in spring fashions ranging from picnic togs to formal wear.
Watson also contributed a baritone sax jazz solo and sang a duet with LeeAnn Swanegan. Swanegon, Fisher and Pursley each performed solos.
The event was part of the BEA’s Black History Month celebration.
On Saturday, Fisher -a junior music/theater major from Louisville, Ky. — held an African dance workshop, attended by Decatur high school students and others.
Niles said the group has concentrated on February events in past years, but hopes to expand activities throughout the school year.
On March 6, it will sponsor a free Gospel Choir concert on campus. On March 11, it will hold a stand-up comedy contest and it plans a seminar April 20 in which Millikin President Curtis McCray and others discuss the university’s responsible to the community.
Although Millikin’s minority enrollment was practically invisible a decade ago, Niles followed two older sisters to the school from St. Thomas. She said her sisters were recruited by Millikin and fell in love with both the school and Decatur.
Millikin has about 70 minority students this year, Niles said.
Copyright, 1994, Herald & Review, Decatur, IL