ANNUAL BLACKS IN GOVERNMENT SCHOLARSHIP
LUNCHEON TO BE HELD FEBRUARY 24
Oak Ridge Chapter Raising Funds For Area Students
 

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. - In celebration of Black History Month, the Oak Ridge Chapter of Blacks in Government (BIG) and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Operations are sponsoring the 11^th Annual BIG Scholarship Luncheon on Thursday, February 24, from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., at the Cumberland Room in Oak Ridge Mall.

The Rev. Dr. Eric L. Leake, Pastor of Greater Warner Tabernacle A.M.E. in Knoxville, is the guest speaker for the luncheon.  The luncheon will also feature winners of the middle school essay contest.  The purpose of the annual luncheon is to help raise scholarship funds for high school students in the local area.  Scholarship recipients are selected based on academic achievement or financial needs. 

Funding for the high school scholarships is generated through ticket sales to the annual luncheon as well as by private and corporate donations.  Church, corporate and Federal sponsors are: Bechtel Jacobs Company LLC, HME Inc., National Nuclear Security Administration, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Oak Ridge Offices, Oak Valley Baptist Church, Parallax Inc., UT-Battelle LLC; Visionary Solutions LLC, and Wackenhut Services Inc.

As part of ongoing community outreach initiatives, BIG also encourages area middle schools and churches to participate in the annual essay contest, awarding the top three winners with a savings bond.  The purpose of this initiative is to encourage children to understand the importance and benefits of developing excellent writing skills while striving to enhance their knowledge and awareness of African American history.

Media representatives are invited to attend this event.  For more information, please call the DOE Public Affairs Office at (865) 576-0885.  The general public is also invited to attend and can purchase tickets at the door for $12 each or by calling Jamell Fulcher at (865) 574-3675 or James Cain at (865) 576-0906.

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