This year’s Charles Featherstone Black Tie Scholarship Fundraiser has been set for Saturday, September 21 at 7 p.m. at the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center.
The Featherstone Scholarship is designed to gather financial support, through its Indianola alumni base, with the intent purpose of building a collegiate support system from within the community and distributing financial assistance to the best and brightest minds from future graduating classes.
The lineup for the September event will feature songstress Cheryl McWhorter-Featherstone, 2018 Steeple Awards Gospel New Artist of the Year. McWhorter-Featherstone, who released her debut music album in 2016, will be accompanied by jazz saxophonist Delon Charley.
McWhorter-Featherstone has performed at numerous venues locally, throughout the region and nationally. Charley toured with the legendary Stevie Wonder and has served as music director for artists such as Chrisette Michelle.
In addition to the musical guests, the black tie event will feature a showcase of alums, from various walks of life, who have excelled in math and science. Not only will these notables receive recognition for their achievements, but they will also avail themselves to serve as mentors and tangible representations for the scholarship candidates.
Six high school seniors will be vying for the 2020 top honor. And as part of the competition, Autumn Willis, Journey Gray, Jakayla Griffin, Fakeidranique Rice, Jaidra Green and Jakeirra Griffin will be required to write a 500-word essay and on the evening of the event they will be required to make a brief oral presentation of their paper.
A designated panel will judge each candidate on how well he or she presents his or her essay.
The Featherstone Scholarship was established posthumously in honor of former math and science instructor Dr. Charles E. Featherstone to celebrate the achievements of high school seniors. The Indianola resident was considered by many to be one of the foremost educators in the Delta. Featherstone taught for decades in the areas of chemistry, biology, physics, algebra and geometry.
The list of schools includes Thomas E. Edwards Senior High, Gentry High and Restorations Ministry Christian Academy in Sunflower County and Amanda Elzy High School in Leflore County.
