African Christian Teachers

40th Anniversary A Day-Long Celebration in 2008

Feb 01, 2009

Nineteen graduates from schools primarily in the Queens community received the African Christian Teachers Award at the Hilton Doubletree Hotel in Jamaica, N.Y. on June 7. One of the oldest education organizations in the southeast Queens community, the association celebrated its 40th Anniversary in a four-part, day long program which feaured a Workshop on African American Genealogy, a Workshop on the African Heritage in Western Music, the Annual Awards Reception and a Gala Dinner for long term supporters. Helping to administer the affair were Director Etta May Ladson and three key area Associates, Almeta Cantlo, Zelma Lewis and Hazel Rollins.


The genealogy session took attendees back to the association's continental roots in Africa via director Ladson's DNA analysis, while the Music Workshop, under the direction of concert pianist Vivian Ladson, traced the African rhythms underlaying much of western music.

At the Awards Reception, the young men honored were: Brandon Chiwaya of Aviation High, Derek Tagoe of Thomas Edicson Technical H.S., Kevin Drouillard of Bishop Loughlin Memorial H.S., Leonard Nixon of August Martin, Myles Thomas of Ossining High, Robert Womble of Martin Van Buren, Muyiwa Adebayo of John Bowne and Jarrett Freeman of Martin Luther High School. The young women receiving the African Christian Teachers Award included: Shondria Britt of Bayside High School, Mercy Sabblah of Forest Hills, Jasmin Johnston of Washington Irving H.S., Rode Toussaint of Math, Science Research Technology High School, Felician Reid of Francis Lewis H.S., Angela Martin of Richmond Hill, Melissa Ross of Hillcrest H.S., Chidera Atuegbu of Martin Van Buren, Sherly De Los Santos of Jamaica H.S., Rushelle Julien of Humanities and the Arts and Renee Foster of Benjamin Cardozo High School.
The African Christian Teachers Award honors the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This year it also remembered Coretta Scott King and the late Hinton King, a long time associate who died earlier in the year. All recipients receive a certificate sent to their schools. Those attending the Awards Reception receive a cash stipend of one hundred dollars.


The gala dinner at the Doubletree feted a host of retired school personnel and supporters from across the city. Their names and professional status are noted on the association's certificates, along with that of its honorable Chairperson, former guidance counselor Anna Ruth Austin.