The Sarah Allen Women’s Missionary Society held their tenth annual Handy-Simmons Scholarship award program and luncheon on Sunday, July 26, 2009 on the plaza level of the church.

The scholarship fund was named to honor two of the earliest missionaries in the society.  Pastor John J. Hunter and First Lady Denise Hunter attended the scholarship luncheon and honored the members of the Handy-Simmons Scholarship Committee, led by WMS president Marye Barnett, for their dedication and leadership in raising funds for the education and advancing of America's future leaders.

Each committee member (Juanita Reed, Chairperson; Marye Barnett; Gale Calvin; Peggy Graham; Vivian Hines; Wanda Kwomo; Rosalind Perry; Adrinne Toussant) received a bouquet of flowers.  This year’s program also included recognition of two current senior members of the society, Ruby Norman and Vivian Patridge, called “great and noble women of our time” by Mrs. Denise Hunter in her salute to these long-serving missionaries.   

The scholarship program was open to undergraduate college students who are members of First AME Church.  The scholarship recipients each received a one thousand dollar award.

Martinique Belgarde’s  dynamic keynote address drew upon the theme “It’s Our Time: Using It Wisely”, with scriptural references from Ecclesiastes 3:1.  Martinique currently serves as the chief college counselor at Verbum Dei School in Los Angeles, and in addition to her duties as Media Director at First AME Church she is also the coordinator of the College Prep Program.  

Pastor Hunter joined WMS President Marye Barnett in thanking supporters of the scholarship program.  WMS member Marjorie Tandy donated to the fund in memory of her mother, Mrs. Minnie L. Hamilton.  FAME Associate Minister Rev. Eduardo Vickers and his wife, (WMS member) Mrs. Cynthia Vickers also made a special contribution to the scholarship fund, presenting five hundred dollars to the committee in memory of Mrs. Vickers’ parent who passed recently.

Each student recipient told of the great blessing it was to receive the scholarship from the church. Parents and family members enjoyed a luncheon with the recipients at the conclusion of the program.

Congratulations to the Handy-Simmons
WMS Scholarship recipients for 2009-2010:

Devin Dillon, Senior
Loyola Marymount University

Peter Fenty, Senior
California State University, Los Angeles

Jazmin Elaine Jordan, Junior
California State University, Fresno

Domonic Smith- Wesson
University of Southern California