Prep Alumni holds Remember When’s 25th Anniversary in grand style
3rd April 2018 · 0 Comments
By Kelly Parker
Contributing Writer
“It’s a good time to be a Prepper,” says Alumni Association President, Melody Robinson.
On the heels of St. Katharine Drexel Prep’s girls basketball team winning a state championship; the first in its school’s history, the celebrated uptown high school prepares to support the success of its students in the classroom.
The Xavier Prep Alumni Association will host the 25th anniversary of the annual “Remember When-A Musical Festival on Magazine Street Scholarship fundraiser, on Sunday, April 8, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Audubon Tea Room. Musical entertainment includes noted artists such as Rechelle Cook, Gina Brown, Real Love, Wanda Rouzan, James Andrews, Clark Knighten and 4×4 Connection Band, Quiet Storm featuring Connie & Dwight Fitch and Joseph Saulsbury and Line Dancing with Lady D.
Proceeds from Remember When go towards financial need and academic based scholarships to both currently enrolled and incoming students of Drexel Prep. Students do have the option of applying for both.
“As we know, you can have a student that is gifted academically but the family may be experiencing financial challenges.” Robinson told The Louisiana Weekly. “Last year, we were able to award 12 scholarships, totaling $40,000. Scholarships pay for half of the tuition for students.”
The function of the Alumni Association is to connect and reunite alumni with the school as well as classmates and also raise funds to support school efforts.
“We gave a $1,000 to provide the buses to take the team to the championship game.” Robinson stated. “If the school has a need, we try to fill that need.”
Over the 25 years of the event’s existence, Remember When has raised nearly $1 million to be given in scholarships and/or for needs of the school.
“Remember When appeals to not just Xavier Prep alums, but to people from all walks of life because of its mission of enriching and educating young people,” says proud alum Wanda Rouzan. “Guests can have fun while making a difference for children.”
Eleven individuals serve as Founders Award honorees this year, including Leah Chase, Horace Bynum, Mickey Barthelemy, Sybil Morial, the Rev. Blake Jones and Irma Thomas.
Sutton hopes that supporting the event is viewed not only as an investment in the education and success of young African-American girls, but in the progress of the city.
“The more African-American females we educate, the better the community will be,” she told The Louisiana Weekly. “If we can educate more young females who will basically run households, they will be better prepared to instill the value of education in their children. It will benefit everybody as a whole. Even if you don’t have daughters, supporting this cause is helping your community.”
For more information on Remember When, or to purchase tickets, contact the Prep Alumni office at (504) 899-6061, ext. 325 or go to www.eventbrite.com.
This article originally published in the April 2, 2018 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.
