North Tulsa Economic  Development Initiative

 

PRESS RELEASE

North Tulsa Economic Development Initiative (NTEDi)

2019 Annual Book Scholarship Awards Celebration May 16, 2019

Tulsa, OK, May 16, 2019 – The North Tulsa Economic Development Initiative (NTEDi) invites you to support and participate in our 7th Annual Book Scholarship Awards Celebration on May 16, 2019 from 6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. The theme for the celebration is, “Pursue Knowledge: Achieve Your Dreams!” The Book Scholarship Awards Celebration will be held at the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame, 111 East First Street-Upper Level, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The purpose of this celebration is to provide additional resources to students with promising college futures, so that through their pursuit of knowledge they can achieve their dreams of success.

“By supporting the education of students, we are able to contribute to their future success and help them to achieve their dreams,” said Dr. Lana Turner-Addison, NTEDi President. “Our goal is to relieve some of the financial burden experienced by many students by providing supplemental funds toward the cost of books and supplies. It is my hope we can alleviate that worry so they can focus on the work at hand, which is realizing their dream and completing college.”

Kojo Asamoa-Caesar will serve as the Keynote Speaker for the celebration. Kojo currently serves as the interim executive director for 36 Degrees North, a co-working space that serves as Tulsa’s basecamp for entrepreneurs, serving over 360 members representing over 180 small businesses and startups.

Kojo most recently served as principal of Greenwood Leadership Academy, an elementary school he founded as part of a partnership between Met Cares Foundation and Tulsa Public Schools. He recruited, hired and managed a staff of 25 to operate a school serving over 250 students. Under his leadership, pre-k enrollment increased threefold and student growth in math significantly exceeded the average in demographically similar schools. The school also recorded an attendance rate that was among the highest districtwide in kindergarten and first grade.

Kojo is passionate about building communities where everyone can achieve their highest potential. He received his bachelor's degree in Communications from Old Dominion University. While there, he served as student body president and also co-founded and served as president of To Respect Unite Support & Teach (T.R.U.S.T.), a non-profit organization committed to encouraging youth volunteerism. Under his leadership, the organization expanded to over 700 student members and now serves multiple communities in Virginia and Georgia.

Kojo believes that we're all born with boundless potential, but that it must be cultivated in a community conducive to growth, and he wakes up and works hard every day to build such a community.

Sponsors of this year 7th Annual NTEDi Book Scholarship Awards Celebration are Tulsa Teachers Credit Union, George Kaiser Family Foundation, Alfresco Group LLC, Sodexo, Lobeck Taylor Foundation, Dr. and Mrs. Preston Phillips, Rita and Sam Combs, American Heritage Bank and Meals on Wheels.

For more information and to purchase tickets visit www.ntedi.net or call 918-534-6884. We look forward to your support in making our Annual Book Scholarship Awards Celebration a smashing success!