USA: Old Edwardians 3rd Annual Reunion, Fundraiser

The St. Edward’s Secondary School Alumni Association (SESSAA) also known as the Old Edwardians Association-USA is poised to convene its 3rd Annual Reunion and Fundraising from September 2 – 4, 2011 in New York City.

Hosted by the New York Chapter, a Meet and Greet session is scheduled from 9:00 pm – 1:00 am on Friday, September 2nd at the Church of Holy Nativity Social Hall located at 3061 Bainbridge Ave in Bronx, New York.

On Saturday, September 3rd the Association will set out on a Family picnic-fun & games at Randalls Island Park (under the Triboro Bridge) in New York City from 12 noon – 6:00 pm.

Edwardians Nite, a fundraising dance featuring Deejay Baby Boy (an Old Edwardian) will follow from 9:00 pm to 4:00 am at the Church of Holy Nativity Social Hall. Since the 3rd Annual Reunion is primarily a fundraiser, organizers are hopefully anticipating a huge turnout by Sierra Leoneans, as well as friends and well wishers of SESSAA in New York and the entire USA to help make the event a success. A $20 donation is required.

During a phone interview, Sentu Johnson, the Chairman of the Old Edwardians Association-USA and president of the New York Chapter, who is also a driving force behind the event promised that Edwardians Nite will be a memorable extravagant affair.

Johnson also stated: “The first reunion was held in Atlanta, Georgia and the second in the metro Washington, DC area. This time around, Sierra Leoneans in New York City’ and the entire state will have an opportunity to meet Old Edwardians in the Diaspora coming together for a crucial goal to raise funds for infrastructural and academic development of their alma mater. It is our utmost goal and mission to bring back our alma mater to its past glory," he concluded.

According to SESSAA’s official webpage, in commemoration of the St. Edwards Secondary School’s eighty-ninth anniversary on February 6, 2011, the organization decided to merge its seven regional chapters in the states of New York, Metro Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia, Georgia, Texas and Pennsylvania into a national US chapter.

The site says its mission is “to lead in truth and to maintain St. Edward’s Secondary School’s tradition of success as an impressive and a top rated institution of learning, where Edwardians of today would acquire the excellence in academics and other co-curricular disciplines to become leaders of tomorrow.”

Among its core objectives are the school building rehabilitation project, sustained academic programs and maintaining a vibrant athletic and other curricular programs.

Mrs. Omo Thorpe is a Sierra Leonean residing in Maryland and a fundraising executive of Old Edwardians Association-USA. In her statement for this article, she expressed her grief over the fact that St Edwards Secondary School was one of the best institutions of learning in Sierra Leone. She said “the teachers and pupils used to completely invest their time and energies and were totally committed to the school’s progress, but since after the civil war in Sierra Leone, the institution has declined, infrastructure is dilapidated and the school is in a downward spiral.”

Nonetheless, Thorpe made a passionate plea: “All true Old Edwardians should respond to this fundraiser, we need an outpouring of support from the Sierra Leonean community to turn the school around because we need to support education in Sierra Leone which is the future of the next generation. I wish I have magical powers to get all Sierra Leoneans in the US to come out to make the Edwardians Nite dance a sold-out event,” she added.

The Reunion continues on Sunday, September 4, 2011 with a 2:00 pm Thanksgiving Service at Church of Holy Rosary located at 1510 Adee Avenue (intersection of Eastchester Road and Gunhill Road) in the Bronx, New York. A reception will be held at 4:00 pm at the Church’s Social Hall following an Alumni parade.

For tickets and more information, please contact Mr. Sentu Johnson at 914-652-1158 and Mrs. Omo Thorpe at 240-460-5821. You can also visit SESSAA website at http://edwardians.org/news-events/73-3rd-annual-reunion.