Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 4 May 2006 — Page 4

Page 4 • The Muncie Times • May 4, 2006

continued from page 1 superintendent of the Indianapolis Public Schools in July 2005. After becoming the first in his family to graduate from high school, he earned a bachelor's degree in 1970 from Alabama A & M University; a master's from the University of Tennessee in 1971; and a doctorate from Ball State University in 1982. He has been a teacher, coach and school administrator. For 19 years, he worked for the Ft. Wayne Community Schools, where he became the district's first African American high school principal, when he headed Wayne High School Then he became deputy superintendent of the Indiana Public Schools from July

1990 to 1992. He gave up that position to become superintendent of the Metropolitan School District of Washington Township 1994 to 2005, when he was hired to lead Indianapolis Public Schools. White has received many honors. Last year, he was selected a Distinguished Alumnus of Ball State University in 2005 and elected to the Alabama A&M Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2002, White was named Indiana Superintendent of the Year. He is a past president of the North Central Association’s Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement and has been named a

Distinguished Hoosier by Gov. Mitchell E. Daniels Jr. He is also a past president of the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents, president-elect of the American Association for School Administrators and president of Ball State Teachers College Alumni Association. Muncie Times Publisher Beatrice Moten-Foster and Cathy Evans, who retired in 1999 after 31 years in the Muncie Star Press retail advertising department, are the continuing co-chairs of the corporate luncheon. Both have been involved with the luncheon since its inception 13 years ago. Evans said the luncheon is almost sold out. Tickets are $30 per person and

$240 for an eight-seat table. As of this week, she said, 80 tables had been sold, primarily to local corporations and some to church groups. "We plan to sell another five or six tables, before we have to give the Horizon Center a count on how many people are coming to the luncheon," Evans said. "We have had some very successful corporate luncheons in the past. But we expect this year's to be the biggest and best that we have had. We're really excited about it. "Year after year, we have continued to grow. We started our luncheons at the Roberts Hotel, before moving to the Horizon Center, as our numbers grew. The corporate luncheon has become such a popular event in the community, among the corporations and among the churches. It's popular because people can see the things that we're doing with the money we raise." In addition to scholarships, money raised at the luncheon is also used to help needy primary and high school students. Evans said at the beginning of each school year, Muncie Black Expo buys pencils, paper and other school supplies for distribution among needy students. "Our agenda is to people of all nationalities and races who need help. We do not discriminate on the basis of race. We want to help the entire Muncie community," she said. "We have discovered that people are always willing to help when they know

and can see that you're doing something good for the community. "Many people also see the corporate luncheon as an opportunity for cooperation and fellowship. It's a time for those who have retired to get a chance to meet with their old coworkers, for them to come together and catch up on what's going on, at the church, in the community or on the job. It's a time to see old friends from the church or the job." The luncheon, which includes a meal, speech, scholarship and community awards, usually runs from 11:30 a.m. to about 1:30 p.m. Evans said: "I'm expecting this to be the best ever Muncie Black Expo Corporate Luncheon. So far, it's shaping up as a great event for Muncie. "I appreciate the support we have received from the corporations, some of the churches and from the community. For me, this is a great opportunity to be involved in something that has positive results. When you volunteer for something like this, it's good because you can see immediate results. It's good to see that it was successful and that I was involved in. I can look back and say that I was involved." Evans said she hopes to be involved against next year, as long as she's still in Muncie. For more information about the luncheon or to buy tickets, call The Muncie Times at 765 7 410037.