Scholarship brunch planned in memory of Oak Ridge civil rights pioneer, church leader

The Cultured Pearls of the Secret City (CPSC) Foundation, 501 (c)(3) organization, announces its inaugural Kathleen Stephens Memorial Scholarship Brunch at 10 a.m. June 15 at the Double Tree Hotel in Oak Ridge.

The CPSC Foundation, the charitable arm of the Oak Ridge Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., is committed to educational advancement of youth and community engagement, according to a news release from the Cultured Pearls.

Kathleen Stephens was a longtime member of the Oak Ridge community, where she taught school and engaged in numerous community activities. As a civil rights activist, she was at the forefront of the picket lines, sit-ins, and marches at restaurants and laundromats in Oak Ridge. She was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority for 59 years and was a charter member and first president of the Oak Ridge Chapter. She was also a founding member of Spurgeon Chapel AME Zion Church in Oak Ridge.

This scholarship is established in memory of Stephens to honor her “Service to all Mankind.”

"We invite all to support this scholarship effort by purchasing a ticket for the brunch or donating to the CPSC Foundation," the release stated. Tickets can be purchased from any member of the CPSC Foundation or from Ruby Miller’s State Farm Insurance office at 574 Oak Ridge Turnpike. Tax-deductible contributions may also be made to the CPSC Foundation, P.O. Box 6652, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6652.

How to apply for scholarship

The Kathleen Stephens Memorial Scholarship is open to all 2024 graduating high school seniors who live in the city of Oak Ridge, Anderson County, or Roane County. Applications may be obtained by sending a request to the CPSC Foundation at the following email address: cpsc2018oakridge@gmail.com . All applications must be completed in full and submitted by mail as indicated on the application form. The sealed application package may also be dropped off at Ruby Miller’s State Farm Insurance office at 574 Oak Ridge Turnpike prior to the deadline of May 27.

The Cultured Pearls of the Secret City (CPSC) Foundation was incorporated on Oct. 22, 2018, exclusively for charitable and educational purposes as specified in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Membership in CPSC comprises all current financial members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Oak Ridge Chapter. The president is Ada Vanessa Bradley.

This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Scholarship brunch planned in memory of Oak Ridge civil rights pioneer, church leader