Tyler

The Rose City Top Ladies of Distinction Inc. is scheduled to present the Ninth Annual “Lads Of Heart” Presentation and Ball at 7 p.m. Saturday at Harvey Convention Center in Tyler, Rose City’s chapter director of operations Dorothy Franks said.

The theme will be “Empowering Youth and Adults to Provide Exemplary Service with Passion and Purpose.”

Ella Collins Nelson will serve as ball chairperson. The committee members are Irajean Henry, President; Ella F. Perry, Ms. Franks, Darlene Isabell, Cynthia Melontree-Johnson, Vernice Melontree, consultant; Linda Lewis, Sylvia Marshall, Alice Mosley, Sharon Mosley, Aiszeleen Stansell, Rita Swink, Martell Williams and LaVerne Madlock, founder of the organization.

The young men who will be presented are Mikel Bell, Matthew Black, Elliot Davis, Isaiah Hampton and Keith Harrell.

The following information is provided by Rose City Top Ladies of Distinction Inc.:

Bell is a junior at John Tyler High School, where he is a member of the varsity football team, gospel choir and concert choir. He is an active member of Top Teens of America as well as an involved member of New Jerusalem Baptist Church, where he participates in the MJC Youth Choir, serves as an usher, and a volunteer for the Bread of Heaven Food ministry.

His hobbies are singing gospel music and meeting new people, and his goal is to study music at Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, and to become a gospel-recording artist.

Jessilyn C. Edwards Taylor will escort Bell. She is the daughter of Freddie Edwards Sr., the late Sarah J. Edwards and Rena Edwards-Taylor. She is a former member and second vice president of Top Teens of America Inc.

Miss Taylor, a sophomore at Tyler Junior College, is on the President’s List, a member of the Apache Band & Color Guard, Chamber Singers, and Harmony & Understanding choral group.

Black will join the Robert E. Lee High School Class of 2012 in the fall. He recently attended Hogg Middle School, where he was on the A/B honor roll, varsity basketball team and the yearbook committee. He received numerous awards that include Austin Elementary PTA “Reflections,” Tyler Police Department’s art competitions. One of his drawings was selected as the logo for the cover of Hogg Middle School’s 2008 yearbook. He attends the Shiloh CME Church of Henderson, where he sings in the choir and plays the guitar. His hobbies are skateboarding, drawing, listening to music, playing guitar and sports.

Black’s goal is to study art at the University of Florida in in order to become an artist and a professional skateboarder.

Eva Reese, 16, will escort Black. She is the daughter of Bobby L. Grant and Kimberly Reese. A junior at Whitehouse High School, she is a member of the choir and foreign language club.

Davis is a junior at Robert E. Lee High School, where he is an active member of the junior varsity basketball team. He also participated as a photographer for the school’s newspaper at the 2008 National CYF conference in Orlando, Fla. He is an active member of Top Teens of America Inc., and a member of the Mount Zion CME Church, where he is an usher.

Davis’ hobbies are basketball, reading, writing, and hanging out with positive and good-minded people. His future goals are to attend San Diego State University in San Diego, Calif., and major in kinesiology/sports broadcasting or get an NBA contract.

Allison Hampton, 15, the daughter of Eric and Lisia Hampton, will escort Davis. A junior at John Tyler High School, she is a member of the varsity cheerleaders.

Miss Hampton is a member of Top Teens of America. She attends the True Vine Baptist Church, where she is an usher and member of the youth choir.

Hampton is a member of New Life Worship Center where he plays the guitar. His hobby is reading the Bible, magazines and self-help books. His goals are to attend the Bob Jones University in Greenville, S.C., where he plans to study acting.

Jasmine Prince, 17, will escort Hampton. She is the daughter of the late Charles Ray Prince and Ella Prince of Red Springs. While attending the Winona Public Schools, she played basketball and ran track. She is presently enrolled at the Essence Tutorial Academy.

Harrell is a junior at John Tyler High School and will be the 2008-2009 mascot for the cheering squad. He is a member of the Advancement Via Individual Determination Program (AVID), a college prep program. He attends New Generation Baptist Church where he is a member of the Mass Choir, youth/young adult choirs, and the recording secretary for the Male Chorus.

He is also a member of the Church Youth Ministry, where he assists in the planning of activities for the youth and the community.

His hobbies include singing, fishing, skating, attending antique car shows, and assisting others. He also enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends. He is the historian and member of Top Teens of America Inc. and a member of the Tyler youth division of the NAACP.

Upon graduating from John Tyler High School, Harrell plans to attend Tyler Junior College and The University of Texas at Tyler to major in the field of law enforcement.

KaShawna Wade, 16, will escort Harrell. She is the daughter of Carminion Sherfield and Kenneth Wade.

Miss Wade, a junior at John Tyler High School, is a member of the band and participates in the AVID college prep program.