Optimism for a promising future for the youth of Wayne County intersected with the importance of reflecting on the past on Monday afternoon at the Boys & Girls Club of Wayne County.
Representatives from UScellular and Goldsboro Mayor Charles Gaylor were on hand to reveal the winners of the ninth annual Black History Month art contest.
Public voting for the finalists’ art was available online, and the winning artists from each Club were awarded gift cards. The winning artists from Boys & Girls Clubs of Wayne County were awarded gift cards in the following amounts:
· D’Angelo Boseman received $250 for 1st Place
· King Boseman received $150 for 2nd Place
· Joey Lamb received $100 for 3rd Place
“I am so thankful to UScellular for allowing us to be a part of this event every year,” said Maggie Lattin, Chief Executive Officer of Boys & Girls Clubs of Wayne County. “This event allows our kids to learn about influential black people who have made an impact and use their creative side all at the same time. We look forward to this every year,”
Boys & Girls Club members were encouraged to create original pieces of artwork representing influential Black STEM icons. These included historical figures, world leaders, scientists, and educators who have made vital contributions to the world of science, technology, engineering, and math.
Ten finalists were chosen by representatives from the Boys & Girls Club based on creativity, quality, interpretation, clarity of theme, and overall impression.
Public voting for the finalists was made available online during the first two weeks of February and the finalists’ artwork was digitally displayed in UScellular’s Goldsboro location at 803 North Berkeley Blvd.
Gaylor grew up attending the Boys & Girls Club of Wayne County and recalled fond memories of his time there, while also offering encouraging words to the youth in attendance on Monday.
“All I’m here to tell you is whatever you want to go be you’re making the right step because you’re here,” Gaylor said. “You’re playing, you’re staying healthy, you’re making friends and you’re going to be successful. It’s so hard to be a kid, and having places like this where you can go to school and do well, and come here and finish your homework, and play and be a kid it’s what it’s all about. If you want to know what a solution looks like, this is what it looks like. How do you replicate it? How do you get more of it? That’s the hard part, but this is what a solution looks like.”
Since 2009, UScellular has invested more than $47 million in monetary donations, technology resources, and countless experiences to nonprofit organizations across the country.
For more information about UScellular’s corporate social responsibility initiatives, visit newsroom.uscellular.com/community.
