Pro baseball trainer and Former New York Met Derek Gaskill Addresses
“Maleness to Manhood Workshop Series”

Mathews-Dickey bestowed $1,000 college scholarships upon 10 graduating seniors at the “Maleness to Manhood Workshop Series.”   Baylon Wilkerson receives a scholarship from VP, Sports & Operations Tom Sullivan and Martin Luther Mathews, president, CEO & co-founder.
Introduced by Scholarship Winner Jordan Wilson, Club Board Member Lee Johnson, president, Lee J Fashions addressed the College Fair audience.
The Mathews-Dickey “Maleness to Manhood Workshop Series 2011” Career Day luncheon was an inspirational program that paired 100+ young men with 100+ businessmen mentors.  Left to Right: Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club President, CEO & Co-Founder Martin Luther Mathews, keynote speaker Derek Gaskill, professional baseball trainer and former New York Mets pitcher, and long-time event emcee and ESPN Radio Broadcaster Randy Karraker.
Baylon Wilkerson receives the inaugural Val Taylor Memorial Scholarship from  Thomas Sullivan, vice president, sports & operations, Mathews-Dickey, and Mathews.  Wilson graduated from McCluer North with a 3.8 GPA.

Mathews-Dickey invited area youth to a community-wide college fair and career day for its 12th annual “Maleness to Manhood Workshop Series.”  Derek Gaskill, a professional baseball trainer and former New York Mets pitcher, delivered the Saturday afternoon keynote address for the three-day event, held June 17-19.

Club Board Member Lethorne Johnson, president & CEO of Lee J Fashions, opened the college fair with welcome remarks, at 9 a.m. that Friday.  Local/national universities and organizations hosted informational booths at the fair.  The festivities also included breakout seminars on “The Financial Aid Process” by Frank Tucci, student financial services counselor, Saint Louis University; “College Life” by John Nichols, admissions representative, University of Missouri — St. Louis; and “ACT Training/College Internet Research” by Cynthia Turner, principal, CJT Consulting, LLC. 

The Career Day kicked off on Saturday morning with 9 o’clock breakout sessions for 100+ “suited and booted” young men, ages 12-18, at the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark Hotel.  An equal number of dedicated businessmen served as their luncheon partners, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.  ESPN Radio’s “The Fast Lane” Host Randy Karraker presided over the panel discussion, after which Gaskill shared his career success stories and drove home the Club’s message that academics and athletics can and should co-exist.

“It is great to be able to see men step up to the plate to focus on the important role of manhood,” said Barbara A. Washington, vice president, public relations & special events, Mathews-Dickey.  “Father’s Day was a perfect time for everyone to come together for an inspirational lunch-time conversation to open our young men’s eyes to a world of opportunities.”

Each mentor sponsored lunch for his mentee.  The young men were encouraged to talk about their aspirations, while the mentors shared the benefits of their career and life experiences. 

Morning breakout sessions were “Moral Development” by Rev. Vernon Betts, deputy sheriff at the City of St. Louis Sheriff’s Department and minister for Shalom City of Peace, and St. Louis Police Department Sgt. Willie Prothro; “Welcome to the Hospitality Industry” by Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark Guest Services Manager Phillip Blandon and Everett Pate, Sr., Hilton concierge and We Make It Happen Concierge Service owner; and “Time Management” by Jack Raymond, first vice president of investments, Merrill Lynch.
The 2011 panelists were:

• “Broadcast News: Careers in TV” by Norman Cole, news video editor, News Channel 5;
•  “Building Community Partnerships” by Alonzo Byrd, assistant vice president, corporate responsibility, Enterprise Holdings;
•  “Engineering: A Successful Career Path” by Jay Gill, vice president, engineering, KTVI Fox 2/KPLR  11;
•  “Money Talk: A Career Spreadsheet” by Michael Weiss, senior manager, Ernst & Young;
•  “Paging Doctor You” by Kenneth Poole, Jr., M.D., physician, Mercy Internal Medicine.

Club Alumnus and Professional Recording Artist Jamie “King James” Dennis performed the “Maleness to Manhood Workshop Series” Theme Song and Collage pianist Tim Huskey provided musical fanfare.
Mathews-Dickey President, CEO & Co-Founder Martin Luther Mathews and Retired St. Louis Fire Chief Sherman George presented 10 $1,000 college scholarships to graduating seniors. Scholarship winners were Cleveland Walton, Michael Appling, Cullen Watkins, Darren Lenzy, Jr., and Rodney Reavling. Donors were Ameren Missouri, Dr. Walter Ballinger Memorial, Ernst & Young, Grice Group Architects, Robert Hensley, Jr. Memorial, Dr. Timothy D. McCoy Memorial, Vallianti “Val” Taylor Memorial, Robert Trice Leadership, Dr. Walter & Mrs. Ruth Washington Memorial and the Weiss Family. 
           The afternoon of June 18 was filled with cultural field trips, including an excursion to the St. Louis Art Museum led by Director Brent Benjamin, pizza party, and movie.  Board Chairman Rev. Earl E. Nance, Jr. hosted closing services at Greater Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church, on Sunday, June 19.
Mathews-Dickey is a non-profit, 501(c) 3 United Way member agency, which provides educational, recreational and cultural programs for more than 40,000 young men and women annually.  For information, call Bill Fronczak at (314) 382-5952, ext. 228, or Washington, at (314) 382-5952, ext. 234.

The “Maleness to Manhood Workshop Series 2011” scholarship winners and donors

Archived:

“Maleness to Manhood Workshop Series“ 2010
“Maleness to Manhood Workshop Series“ 2009
“Maleness to Manhood Workshop Series“ 2008
“Maleness to Manhood Workshop Series“ 2007
“Maleness to Manhood Workshop Series“ 2006
“Maleness to Manhood Workshop Series“ 2005
“Maleness to Manhood Workshop Series“ 2004
“Maleness to Manhood Workshop Series“ 2003