It’s Finally Here…the 15th Annual COE Awards Gala

April 20, 2012 | Filed under: Featured | Posted by: Admin

By Naomi Bonman
IVN Staff Writer

Upland, CA- The Inland Valley News Inc., is just days away to celebrating the 15th Annual Celebration of Excellence (COE) Awards Gala, this Saturday, April 21st beginning at 5:00 p.m. with a red carpet arrival. This year’s gala is being held at The Cable Airport, 1749 West 13th Street, Upland CA, with the theme ‘Soaring to New Heights’.

The Celebration of Excellence Awards Gala is a community outreach program of the Inland Valley News, sponsored together with its non profit organization, Shining Glory Publications, Inc. The majority of the proceeds from this extravagant event go towards providing scholarships and summer internships for youth and young adults from underprivileged Inland Valley communities wishing to pursue education and/or careers in journalism; publication design or other fields within the arts; communications and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (S.T.E.M).

Scholarship recipients for this year are: Melissa Candell. Jacqueline Gamboa, Jonah Huber, KaDeidra Hines, Jillian Peace and Colton J. Von Pertz.

The Inland Valley News is the only African American owned legally adjudicated and audited newspaper in the Inland Valley, serving over 70,000 readers each week. At the event, Publishers’ Awards and Community Excellence Awards honor Inland Valley leaders as well as unsung heroes from various sectors of society for their positive impact in the Inland Valley and Inland Empire.

This event celebrates the achievements and contributions of people who help make a difference in their community. “We are expecting this event to sell out. Last year there were over 300 registered guests and twenty major sponsors,” stated Mr. Tommy Morrow, Co-Publisher of the Inland Valley News. Dr. Gloria Morrow adds, “We are expecting one of the most exciting experiences at the 2012 COE. We are very grateful for those who continue to support the Gala each year.”

The Publishers Choice Awards recipients are: Tracy Underwood (Toyota)- Publishers’ Choice; Buford Johnson (Tuskegee Airmen)- Lifetime Achievement; Adrienne Konigar-Macklin (Administrative Law Judge, San Bernardino County)- Leadership in Jurisprudence; Janice Rutherford (Board of Supervisors, San Bernardino County 2nd District)- Civic Leadership; Brian and Hilda Kennedy (Mt. Zion Baptist Church)- Community Builders; Bob and Suzanne Cable (Cable Airport)- Excellence in Entrepreneurship; Youlonda Copeland-Morgan (University of California, Los Angeles)- Educational Administration; and Dr. Deborah Sims LeBlanc (National University)- Post Secondary Education.

The Community Nominated Excellence Awards recipients are: Dr. Kimberly Kimpel-Community Service; Dr. Anthony L. Dockery- Religion; Sherry Underwood-Education; Farrell J. Chiles-Business; and Debbie Leance-Family Hero.

The growing list of 2012 sponsors at press time are: Verizon, Union Bank, Inter Valley Health Plan, Ed Equity, Mount San Antonio Gardens, Chaffey College, Webb Family Enterprises, Toyota Motor Sales USA, Barbra McCormick Family Trust, Foothill Transit, California State Polytechnic University Pomona, Pomona Unified School District, Transcendence Children and Family Services, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Epsilon Eta Omega Chapter, City of Upland, Guillermina Hall, Pomona Valley Medical Hospital and Gourmet Gourmet.

A limited number of tickets are still available. If you have yet to purchase your ticket, there is still time to do so. Individual tickets are $100. Please call the office for sponsorship, ticket and table information at (909) 981-0072. The Gala is a Black Tie formal event. You can also visit www.coegala.com and www.inlandvalleynews.com for more information.