Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated NewspaperPage 10 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • September 6 - September 12, 2012

Rhoda Glasco Snead Collins has passed on(Cont'd from FP)

During this period the coun-try was engaged in World WarII. The music teacher at herhome elementary school wasdrafted by the military for aperiod of three years. This va-cancy was offered to Rhoda andshe accepted. Consequently, shefound herself working with theperson who had been her princi-pal when she was in school andwith five teachers who hadtaught her.

At the end of the three yearperiod, Rhoda resolved to en-large her horizons and relocatedfrom West Chester. Mrs. Collinsaccepted a position as choraldirector and music departmenthead at Edward Waters Collegein Jacksonville, Florida.

From Edward WatersCollege, she came to Fort Lau-derdale, where she taught atDillard High School for 24years.She taught English dur-ing her first two years at Dillard.She held the position as head ofthe Music Department duringher remaining 22 years.

The Dillard choruses wereactive in the community andthroughout the State of Florida.In competition at county andstate festivals, the Dillard soloistensemble and choruses receivedmany Superior ratings duringthe mid-60s. The Dillardchoruses travelled to North andSouth Carolina where they per-formed at Johnson C. SmithUniversity in Charlotte and Al-len University in Columbia.Their travels also included Nas-sau, Bahamas. Every Christ-mas and Easter they particip-ated in the early morning ser-vice at Sweeting Estate in FortLauderdale.

During the final 10 yearsbefore her official retirement in1981,she worked in the samecapacity at Nova Middle Schoolwith emphasis on the choralgroups. From 1977-1992, shecontinued working with theBroward County School Boarddirecting and accompanying theDillard Adult Choral. Thisgroup was composed of formerstudents, former co-workersand members of the communitywho shared the love of music.The repertoire ranged fromsacred music to secular, classicto contemporary and folk music,and original spirituals, toBroadway tunes and jazz. TheChorale participated yearly atthe Bethune-Cookman Col-legeMusic Festival in DaytonaBeach.

In 1986, she spent a se-mester as Director of ChoralMusic at Everglades MiddleSchool (now William E. DandyMiddle School).

Over a period of years Rhodawas church organist/choirdirector at St. ChristopherEpiscopal, Mt. Hermon A.M.E.and at St. John Methodistchurches. Eventually she land-ed in the same capacity atEpiscopal Church of the Inter-cession where she served as theorganist and choir director for25 years. She taught pianolessons to students and adultsin the community for more than50 years. Many of the lessonswere provided at no charge.

Mrs. Rhoda Snead Collinshas been the recipient of manyhonors,certificates, plaques andawards. Her most highly cheri-shed honors are the dedicationof a doctoral thesis at Cornell

Congresswoman Frederica Wilson awards thousands of dollars in college scholarships to South Florida students

L to r: Theresa Eugene, Carla Forges, Silvia Cius, acceptingon behalf of Clauden Louis, Congresswoman FredericaWilson, Jacques Wilson and Khaleelah Ladson.

(Photo by Ed Haynes)

Although they had neverlaid eyes upon one another, sixcollege students, who gatheredin Congresswoman FredericaWilson’s District 24 Congres-sional office on Aug. 21, 2012,were on the same quest andhad the same goal- continuingtheir education- but how?

Some are the first in theirfamilies to ever attend college;some, come from single parenthouseholds; and some are thechildren of immigrants strug-gling to survive.

“I see this time and time a-gain, young men and womenwho want to go to college but

can’t, because they can’t affordto do so, “ says CongresswomenWilson.

But their fears and concernswere quickly put to rest. Con-gresswoman Wilson presentedeach student with a $1600 scho-larships on behalf of the Con-gressional Black Caucus Foun-dation of the CongressionalBlack Caucus which is made upof Black members of the UnitedStates Congress.

Although linked with theCongressional Black Caucus(CBC), the Congressional BlackCaucus Foundation is a sepa-rate nonprofit group that runs

programs in education, health-care and economic develop-ment.

Congresswoman Wilsongave out at total of $10,000 inscholarships to the students.“Education is the key to success;it can unlock many doors fordeserving young men andwoman, and allow them to liveout their dreams,” says Con-gresswoman Wilson.

Congresswoman Wilson is alifelong advocate of childrenand education. She is also thefounder of the 5000 Role Modelsof Excellence Project, which pro-vides mentorship and scho-

larships to at-risk boys inMiami-Dade Public Schools.

“As a former school principalI know the need for programslike this and the positive impactthey can have on a student’slife,” said the Congresswoman.

Founded in 1976, the Con-gressional Black Caucus Foun-dation has helped thousandsof students struggling financi-

ally to achieve their dreams offurthering their education.

“Although I do receive somefinancial assistance from my fi-nancial aid office at school,every year I have to scrambleto figure out how I am going topay the balance on my schoolbill. There have been timeswhere I have been close to beingkicked out of school financially

University by Dr. Horace A.Judson (Dillard 1959), current-ly the President of KnoxvilleCollege, Knoxville, Tennessee,and the music scholarshipinstituted by the Dillard HighSchool Class of 1960.

Over 50 years ago, she wasinitiated into the Zeta RhoOmega Chapter of Alpha KappaAlpha Sorority, Incorporatedwhere she served many yearsas musician for the Chapter andits numerous community pro-grams.

Mrs. Collins was pre-deceased in death by her pa-rents, her siblings (ClarenceGlasco, Jr. and Wayne T. Glas-co) and her husband, Rev.Joseph P. Collins. She leaves tocherish her memories:hernamesake and niece, RhodaGlasco Foderingham; her niecePatricia Glasco West (Richard);sister-in-law Lillian P. Glasco;her step-children Joseph Col-lins, Jr., Thomas Collins (Katie),Ronald Collins (Rosie), RachelV. Drew (Vernon) and Ruby I.Black (Charles); and many ex-tended family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the familyis requesting that donations bemade to the RGSC Scholarship.Contributions should be madepayable to Dillard High School/RGSC Scholarship and mailedto Dillard High School, 2501N.W. 11 St., Fort Lauderdale,Fla., 33311 Attn: Bookkeeper.

Viewing: Thursday, Sept.6, 2012 5 to 7 p.m. Roy Mizell&Kurtz Funeral Home Chapel,1305 Northwest Sixth St. (Sis-trunk Boulevard), Fort Lauder-dale, Fla. Memorial Service:Immediately following theviewing. Interment: PrivateGraveside Services (Familyonly), Friday, Sept. 7, 2012

and where I thought I wouldhave to leave,” says TheresaEugene, a senior at the Uni-versity of Massachusetts Am-herst, who is seeking a Bache-lor’s Degree of Individual Con-centration in Arts Managementand Social Entrepreneurship.

For Khaleelah Ladson, ajunior at Florida State Univer-sity, who is seeking a Bachelor’sDegree in the Fine Arts ActingProgram, it has also been anuphill battle to stay in school.

“As the tuition rates rise hereat Florida State, the money Ihad saved for school, (in additionto the grants I have), are nearlydepleted. I can only take a fewclasses this semester becausethe average 3-credit course costsup to $558. I also have to payfor food, books, my house utilitybills and healthcare necessities,”says Ladson.

Paying for college has beenhuge burden for these finan-cially strapped students, but onelifted, at least, for this semes-ter, thanks to the CBCF Schol-arships.

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