Pitt's Celebration For Success to Honor Current and Past African American Scholarship Recipients

February 13, 2003

PITTSBURGH The University of Pittsburgh will honor more than 100 current and former African American students at a Celebration For Success dinner and reception at 6 p.m. Feb. 21 in Alumni Hall's J. Wray Connelly Ballroom, 4227 Fifth Ave., Oakland.

Honorees include the recipients of the Helen Faison Scholarship for the College of Arts and Sciences, the Donald Henderson Scholarship for the School of Engineering, the Robert Lavelle Scholarship for the College of Business Administration, the Adena Davis Scholarship for the School of Nursing, and the Honors Challenge scholarship. All were awarded to high-achieving incoming African American students from Pittsburgh and from across the country.

Pitt's Office of Admission and Financial Aid has invited 250 current and former students to the Celebration For Success. The individuals for whom the scholarships are named also are expected to attend.

Helen Faison (CAS '46, EDUC '55G, EDUC '75G) was the first African American and the first woman in the history of Pittsburgh Public Schools to serve as a high school principal (Fifth Avenue High School in 1968). She has a long and distinguished record of civic and professional service.

Donald Henderson (FAS '67G) returned to the University as associate provost in 1970 and served as provost from 1989 until his retirement in 1993.

Robert Lavelle (CBA '51, KGSB '54G) is president of Lavelle Real Estate Inc. and executive vice president of Dwelling House Savings and Loan Association, which has assisted many minority families with mortgage loans.

Adena Davis (NURS '47) was the first African American student to attend the Pitt School of Nursing. She began her career in the operating room at Magee-Womens Hospital and eventually moved on to what is now called the Veterans Administration Healthcare System, where she worked as a staff nurse, head nurse, and supervisor until her retirement in 1992.

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