Wednesday, October 21, 2009
By Vinette K. Pryce
CONTINUED
Athletes Put Their Myt On
(L-R) Leighton Young, honoree Neville Myton, Ian Martin and Maurice Myton
Former, long-distance Olympian Neville Myton O.D. reflected on his destined acceptance by the school’s founder, A. Wesley Powell. Myton said the forward-thinking principal waived bureaucracy to secure a space for him when he was a relentless and anxious, young, athlete. His younger, brother Maurice who resides in Florida, listened intently as he spoke of his conflicted decision to attend the New York festivities.
Apparently, simultaneous to the Big Apple engagement, Neville was invited to join Olympian Veronica Campbell-Brown for acceptance to Paris, France where she was named UNESCO’s ambassador for sports.
“He made the right decision,” colleague and former hurdler Hewitt DePass said.
Maryland-Washington D.C. resident and XLCR track, coach Anthony “Tony” Carr, Kingston resident Desmond “Carl” Shakespeare, New York resident and former, soccer sensation, Leonard “Chicken” Mason, and a gaggle of athletes and football players agreed.
From all appearances, the athletic, recipient of Jamaica’s Order of Distinction rallied endorsers of his honor from Jamaica, Florida and all across America.
There was plenty of talk about former, champion-chaser Garth Case being back at the school to coach future track champions.
Carr and DePass seem to relish the idea of the celebrated, athlete returning to give back to his school.
Together they have committed to DASH Athletics in order to revive Excelsior’s track and field program.
Despite unspoken, sentiments of dismay from fellow track and field and football colleagues who knew Kirk Nedrick, the wheel-chair restricted alum, paralyzed from a bullet wound he suffered a decade ago, also regaled his glory days as an athlete and scholar.
Female Triumvirate Triumphs
Philadelphia-based Kerrian Hutchinson-Mitchell was lauded in print for her artistic crafting of a 40th anniversary logo. Now the envy of every graphic designer who has seen the creative design, the indelible art work was donated.
“It was while I was at Excelsior that I learned my craft” the generous, former student said, “I will always be grateful.”
The 1999 graduate established SimplyGraphix Visual Communications in Kingston. Her generosity was acknowledged in a journal each guest received.
Dr. Marcia Livingston and Dr. Maureen Samms-Vaughan
Dr. Marcia Livingston made good use of the time she was directed. However, arriving from Oklahoma, she used every minute and then some, thanking a litany of contributors to her success. Amiable and engaging, she retraced her arrival to the school that probably enabled her success as a veteran teacher for 22 years. The 1980 graduate is a renowned educator and women’s advocate in Oklahoma.
A member of National Association of Female Executives, Black Professional Women Association and International Third World Leaders Association, Dr. Livingston could have educated the crowd in three languages and on a myriad of topics including Christianity. She is a fulltime professor at Oral Roberts University and one of two distinguished female, honorees at the gala.
The government of Jamaica acknowledged the contribution of Prof. Maureen Samms-Vaughan in 2007 when she was awarded the Order of Distinction for services she continues to render relating to early childhood. However, in 2009, her peers showered her with unrelenting platitudes while poking fun of the idiosyncrasies she may have exhibited before graduating in 1973.
Accomplished in pediatrics, Dr. Samms-Vaughan jetted from UWI to NY to reprise a valedictory she has become familiar. Her colleagues and friends showed up in numbers to compliment the service she has dedicated to her country. All three women reflect the ideals the association credits as consistent with the school’s motto of Age Animo – soaring Yet Higher. |
