Students organize college's inaugural Juneteenth festivities

A weekend Juneteenth celebration, moved to September to allow participation by more students, provided the campus community with a mix of educational and entertaining activities arranged by Penn College's Black Student Union. The first-year observance, held amid gorgeous late-summer conditions, kicked off Friday morning with a flag-raising ceremony and ended the following evening with a themed outdoor dance.  Other events included informative presentations and discussions, a movie, and a showcase of products and services.

– Photos by Cindy Davis Meixel, writer/photo editor;
Tom Wilson, writer/editor-PCToday; and Kollin G. Kisner, student photographer

Carrying signs espousing "Freedom for All," "Honor Juneteenth" and "Together We Rise," three participants in Saturday morning's Freedom Walk stop by a commemoratively painted campus landmark. From left are Taylor Mathews, a Lycoming College psychology major and member of the Black Student Union there; event organizer Rawls-White, an applied management major from Northumberland; and Shahin Shabanian, an assistant professor of physics.

... and catches some midday rays outside the Breuder Advanced Technology & Health Sciences Center the following afternoon.

Among those stationed along Saturday's Vendors Row is Una Rawls, founder of HairGarten, who delivered a program in Penn's Inn the evening before.

Madigan Library set up a table of related books near its main circulation desk, including "College Admissions of Guilt," whose author – Noah James T. Fenstermacher – gave a presentation during the opening day of Juneteenth activities.

YWCA Northcentral PA brought its mission to "eliminate racism; empower women; and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all." Staffing the agency's display on the campus mall are (from left) intern Carly J. Kissinger, an applied human services major at Penn College; Jennifer Swanson, prevention educator; and Rebecca Hosier, shelter advocate.

A celebratory tabletop banner greets Friday's attendees ...

A crowd gathers in the LEC Loop.

Rawls-White and the mayor begin to raise the flag as Tamaka Carter sings “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Carter earned an associate degree in business management and is working toward her bachelor’s in business administration: management concentration.

The Juneteenth flag – evoking American freedom and the promise of a new day – flies outside the Hager Lifelong Education Center.

Derek Slaughter, Williamsport's first mayor of color, brings an uplifting message of unity.

Tiana M. Rawls-White, president of Penn College's Black Student Union (and tireless organizer of the two-day observance) welcomes attendees.

Penn College Army ROTC cadets from Bald Eagle Battalion were on hand to distribute programs. Back row (from left): Ashlee E. Massey, human services and restorative justice; BSU Vice President Shaqira S. Drummond, business administration: marketing concentration; Mayor Slaughter; Rawl-White; Carter; and Ashlee Felix, human services and restorative justice. Front row (from left): Kurt M. Maly, mechatronics; Sam T. VanDermark, manufacturing engineering technology; Anthony J. Marturano, welding and fabrication engineering technology; and Joseph L. Elinski, manufacturing engineering technology.

As secretary of the sponsoring organization, Carter shows off her BSU T-shirt.

Showing the same vocal credibility that earned her "Penn College Star" honors two years ago, Rawls-White performs on Saturday's open-mic stage.

"The Rock" was repainted for the occasion, marking the 1865 freeing of slaves in Texas – two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.