By Laura Rodell

The University hosted the 31st Annual Gala on Feb. 25 in support and celebration of the Town of Hempstead. Each year, the Testimonial Scholarship Ball strengthens the bond between the University and village by honoring distinguished residents and by raising scholarship funds for Hempstead students at the University.

This year’s guests included President Stuart Rabinowitz and Hempstead Village Mayor James A. Garner. Representing academia and municipality respectively, the two teamed up with the 31-year-old “Hempstead for Hofstra/Hofstra for Hempstead Committee” to present the festivities. Also present were this year’s four honorees, Edith Lattimore, Cecilia Lopez-Bell, Reverend William A. Watson Jr. and Willie White, whose round of speeches was one of the night’s highlights. Rasheed Galloway, ’05, recipient of a scholarship for Hempstead residents, delivered a speech to the 200 guests, while Taneisha Castello, ’06, sang the national anthem.

Ticket sales for the evening of dinner and dancing yielded a total of $17,000, which will go toward funding the education of the University’s local students. The Director for Scholarships and Endowments Diana Richardson said, there are currently 31 such scholarships.

“Awards are granted to deserving students residing in Hempstead, selected on the basis of academic merit and demonstrated financial need,” she said.

Each of the honorees received the prestigious Unispan Award in recognition of their contributions and outreach to the community. As vice-president of small business relations at HSBC Bank, recipient Cecilia Lopez-Bell donates her skills, time and effort to coach others in financial management. She hosts financial-literacy classes at high schools in Hempstead, as well as educates the village’s entrepreneurs on small-business management. Discovering she had been nominated and approved for the award was a surprising and poignant moment for Lopez-Bell.

“I was very honored and touched to receive this unexpected award,” she said.

In her speech, Lopez-Bell related the duty of school and town administrators, as well as students and residents, to the tale of The Wizard of Oz. She noted that everyone follows a yellow-brick road in life, with choices to make and lessons to learn along the way. Journeying individuals acquire different gifts and talents, but it is important to use those skills in ways that benefit others.

“I encouraged all to have the courage to follow their dreams, the heart to do what is right, and to return home to give back to their communities,” she said. “Giving them the opportunity to come is what higher education is supposed to be about.”

Now in its third decade, the ‘Hempstead for Hofstra/Hofstra for Hempstead’ Committee works diligently to fortify school-village relations and raise money for Hempstead residents to attend the University. Year-round, the committee solicits businesses and private individuals for contributions to be put directly toward scholarships as well as toward Testimonial Ball expenses. The all-volunteer committee is a quilt comprised of businesspeople and college and government administrators, brought together by a desire to help dedicated students advance themselves.

Committee member and Director of Events Management, Dr. Christopher Adams, recently received his doctorate in educational administration from the University and appreciates how others reached out to him throughout his educational career. He views involvement with the committee as a way to support and make a positive difference in the lives and educations of othe students.

“I had great professors who took a real interest in me as a person and I wanted to be able to give back,” he said. “Being on the committee means aiding the local community and offering its residents the education they deserve, not merely the one they can afford. There’s this great institution in their backyard that students may not be able to attend because of socio-economic

Rasheed Galloway knows first-hand how important such fundraising efforts are to Hempstead residents seeking an education at the University. His speech at the 2005 Testimonial Ball addressed the fundraiser’s impact on students’ lives and matched a face and voice to the recipients of the evening’s proceeds.”

The “Hempstead for Hofstra/Hofstra for Hempstead” commitee works year-round to fortify school-village relations and now invites these most recent honorees to join in the effort. Keeping this relationship vital requires the combined efforts of many people, a mission now strengthened by four new and dedicated recruits.